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Natural Awakenings is your guide to a healthier, more
balanced life. In each issue readers find cutting-edge
information on natural health, nutrition, fitness, personal
growth, green living, creative expression and the products
and services that support a healthy lifestyle.

18 JEFFREY SMITH

WARNS AGAINST GMOS
by Linda Sechrist

20 ADVENTURES
IN NATURE

Families Create Memories
at Nearby Parks
by Harriet Shugarman

22 PADDLE-HAPPY

Paddleboarding for Family Fun
by Lauressa Nelson

24 FOOD DEMOCRACY

By the People, for the People
and Toward a Stronger Nation

34 VEGGIE NATION
REVOLUTION

38

by Judith Fertig

38 MANIFEST MIRACLES
Tap Into the Field
of Infinite Possibility
by Deborah Shouse

40 SAVVY CYCLING
Keep the Hard Knocks
Out of Biking

WHERE TO PICK UP NATURAL AWAKENINGS

by Randy Kambic

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can pick up a free copy in your area, please contact us at 616656-9232 or email us at: Publisher@NaturalWestMichigan.com

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his month’s theme of Food
Democracy has me thinking about
the success of educating our population
about food-related issues. For instance,
gluten intolerance is better understood
now than just a few years ago, and
researchers continue to learn more about
the basis and generation of autoimmune
diseases. Lactose intolerance is well
understood today, where before all we
had to go on was visible symptoms.
Organic food was once considered
too expensive for most of us to buy; now
it’s too expensive not to buy if we want
to avoid ingesting genetically modified
(GM/GMO) crops, herbicides, pesticides,
synthetic hormones and antibiotics, and their associated health issues.
Over time, we will learn more about the premium nutrients we each need
and the foods that give us trouble. But starting today we can all make better
choices by knowing the ingredients and origin of our food.
After 20 years of eating GMOs, we now suspect that their
consequences can be devastating to the health of the living creatures that
consume them. It’s a hot controversy with grassroots common sense and
independent science arrayed against big corporations with lobbying clout.
There’s enough research to call GMOs into question and at least require
labeling so that consumers can make informed choices.
If we are what we eat, most of us have a big problem. Understanding
the nutrients generally required to maintain optimal wellness and how to
avoid toxins in our food are helpful steps. Knowing how to read food labels
is another. When it comes to the development of our children, few things
are more essential than ensuring the quality of the foods they eat.
Beyond the basic need for energy, what we eat as children and adults
affects our general wellbeing and happiness. Because it profoundly affects
our biochemistry, it dictates in large part how we feel, think and perform.
Family by family, community by community, we are finding that our
greatest healthcare protection and savings come with the choices we make
in supporting a healthful lifestyle.
This month’s articles address the importance of knowing what’s in our
food, the dangers of GMOs, feeding the hungry with excess harvests and
loads of recipes to help us feast on summer’s bounty. We also encourage you
to get out in nature, manifest some miracles and start pedaling around town.
It all gets us thinking about healthier, more natural and joyful ways of living.
Happy Independence Day!

Never Glossy. Always Green.
Natural Awakenings practices environmental sustainability by
printing on post-consumer recycled paper with soy-based ink.
This choice avoids the toxic chemicals and high energy costs of
producing shiny, coated paper that is hard to recycle.

Amy Hass, Publisher

Natural Awakenings
Magazine of West Michigan

NaturallyWestMI

NaturallyWestMI Natural Awakenings

natural awakenings

Magazine of West Michigan

July 2015

3

newsbriefs
Celebration Open House

T

he Yoga Studio, Grand Rapids’ home
for classical hatha yoga since 1979,
is celebrating their move to a newly
renovated studio on Friday, July 24th from
5:30 to 8:30 p.m. All are welcome to
tour the space; light refreshments will be
served. The new address is 959 Lake Dr.
SE, Suite 206 in Grand Rapids.
Classes in the new studio begin after
Independence Day. New and returning
students are invited to take a free class the week of July 6, and
a summer series of classes will begin the following week.
For more information, visit The Yoga Studio’s website at
GRYoga.com or follow them on Facebook at Facebook.
com/TheYogaStudioGR. See ad, page 16.

The Magic of Michigan

C

ome experience the magic of Michigan and find your
Michigan summer moment at an affordable weekend
retreat, August 21-23, at historic Camp Miniwanca, a private
Lake Michigan gem just north of Muskegon. Located among
360 wooded acres, beautiful Camp Miniwanca offers
everything from tent camping to rooms near the lake or
among the pines.
This special Sierra Club weekend is open to the public,
and for 26 years now, the magic of this beautiful, pure
Michigan setting has been bringing people together. Invite
your friends and family to this easy introduction to the
community of people from all over the state, young and old.
Take part in activities and attractions such as kayaking, sailing,
river tubing, swimming, high ropes course, guided hikes,
scavenger hunts, campfires, yoga, kite flying and more.
The modest retreat fee covers all activities and workshops,
five meals, two nights’ lodging and memories and
connections to last beyond the weekend. For more
information, including camp location and registration,
contact Cecilia Garcia at Cecilia.Garcia@SierraClub.org or at
517-484-2372, x10.

Build Your Immunity

B

ecome an expert
on your immune
system. On Monday,
July 27 at 7:00 pm,
Dr. Mark Wolfman,
D.C. will host a free
Maximized Living
Advanced Workshop
titled, “Building Immunity from the Inside Out: Body
Armor!” At this workshop, Dr. Mark Wolfman, will help
you understand what your immune system is, what types of
things weaken and destroy your immune system and how we
can support immune system health through The 5 Essentials.
Every part of your body, including your immune
system, functions better when protected from
environmental assaults and strengthened by healthy-living
choices. Team up with Maximized Living as we show you
exactly how to protect yourself from the ongoing battle
against immune health attacks.
Workshop takes place at Visser Family YMCA, 3540
Fairlane Ave. SW, Grandville. For more information call
616-214-3111 or visit MLRivertown.com.

July Classes at NITE

T

he Naturopathic Institute of
Therapies and Education (NITE)
invites you to dive deep into the art
of healing. Combining practical skills,
comprehensive knowledge and a profound understanding
of the interconnectedness between physical, emotional,
mental and spiritual health and wellness makes the
Naturopathic Institute education truly unique. Learn
from highly qualified instructors who bring a wealth of
experience and expertise with them into the classroom to
rock your world.
In July, classes include Flower Remedies and Essential
oils, July 10-13 as well as an Herb Walk, July 10-13.
For more information, call 989-773-1714, email
Contact@NaturopathicInstitute.info or visit
NaturopathicInstitute.info. See ad, page 48.

oin Lakeshore
Pilates on
September
12 and 13 for
a PFilates™
training and
become a
Certified PFilates™ instructor.
PFilates™, Pelvic Floor Pilates, is
a unique strength and conditioning
program created by Dr. Bruce Crawford,
Urogynecologist. PFilates™ uses 10
exercises that were scientifically tested to
engage the pelvic floor and surrounding
muscles. PFilates™ is the only method of
conditioning to target all of the different
functions of the pelvic floor thereby
providing the most effective training.
Different from traditional Kegel exercises,
PFilates™ training incorporates the different
functions of the pelvic floor in movements
that ensure clients are engaging these
often poorly trained muscles. Clinical
research from our program reveals a
74% improvement in lower urinary tract
symptoms over the course of four weeks
with very low attrition.

n the height of summer, it’s important
to be able to identify plants that we and
our children should avoid like poison
ivy. Poison ivy can grow as ground cover.
Forget waxy or shiny leaves, forget red stems, poison ivy may or may not have
these characteristics and many other plants may have them. The best way to
identify poison ivy is to know that there is an inconsistency in the notches on the
three leaves. They are usually not mirror images of each other—there are subtle
differences that vary from leaf to leaf, cluster to cluster, on the same plant.
Poison ivy can be very dangerous and hundreds of people are hospitalized
every year from trying to remove it from their property. Poison Ivy Control of
Michigan offers the identification of the noxious plants (poison ivy, poison oak,
poison sumac and various other noxious plants as well) on people’s property,
removal of the plants and an ongoing treatment plan if elected.
For more information, call 1-844-489-4663, email PoisonIvyGuys@aol.com or
visit PoisonIvyControlOfMichigan.com. See ad, page 13.

Are you interested in
PREVENTION?

For more information, call 616-3434303 or email Info@LakeshorePilates.
com. See ad, page 17.

Summer
Wellness Specials

G

rand Rapids
Natural
Health is excited
to offer two great
deals as a part
of their Summer
Wellness Special.
First, receive 40% off the introductory
rate on counseling with Kerry Hart
Counseling, PLC. Hart’s expertise include
couples counseling, premarital and marital
counseling, sex therapy, separation and
divorce counseling, parenting support,
behavior modification, depression and
anxiety treatment and much more.
Also, receive 20% off your first
massage to all new clients with Janelle
Goltz, LMT. Goltz has a passion about
natural healing and skincare and is
excited to offer her clients at Grand
Rapids Natural Health her services, using
clean, safe products. Goltz has seven
years of experience. She specializes

ubtle Energies and
D’ Rose Institute are
happy to announce that
the newly expanded Urevia Integrated Health and Healing
Science programs have been offered full board professional
accreditation and certification. The school’s curriculum fully
meets accreditation board’s educational requirements and
graduates are eligible to apply to be board certified holistic
health practitioners.
Subtle Energies and D’ Rose Institute provide quality
education for alternative holistic practitioners, healers
and any student seeking self-improvement to enhance
health, well-being and spirituality. Classes are designed for
practitioners interested in expanding their skill-set and for
individuals interested in personal growth and healing.
For more information, call 269-671-4455 or visit ReikiUreviaClasses.com. See ad, page 42.

Young Masters at Spirit Space

S

pirit Space is an
inter-spiritual, nondenominational church
in Saugatuck that offers
children an opportunity
for spiritual growth
through the process of
learning how to reach in

6

West Michigan Edition

NaturalWestMichigan.com

to reach out. Each week our children engage in a meditation
exercise to promote relaxation, creativity and inner peace.
Values addressed in our children’s program are friendship,
imagination, gratitude, courage, creativity and love. These
values are explored through Universal Spiritual Principles,
meditation exercises, stories, hands-on activities and arts
and crafts.
The Dali Lama states: “If every 8 year old in the world
is taught mediation, we will eradicate violence within one
generation.”
Join us on Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m. Nursery care
is provided for children 0-3 years old.
For more information, call 616-402-7850, email
SSCareCoordinator@gmail.com or visit Spirit-Space.org.
See ad, page 35.

PlantPure Nation
Lady Liberty has a new tagline: a plantbased diet for all. A return to a simple diet
based on whole grains, fruits and vegetables is the revolution the founding fathers
of PlantPure Nation hope Americans will
embrace this Independence Day.
Founded by Dr. T. Colin Campbell,
Ph.D., the grassroots organization
PlantPure Nation seeks to promote the
powerful health benefits for people and
the planet offered by a whole foods,
plant-based diet.
This July 4, the documentary film
PlantPure Nation, directed by Nelson
Campbell, Colin’s son, will debut
nationwide and start screening in more
than 100 cities. It covers a broad landscape of issues, from the politics of food
to the science of nutrition, and follows
the lives of 16 people in Campbell’s
small hometown of Mebane, North
Carolina, as they take on PlantPure
Nation’s 10-day food challenge.
“No issue is bigger than the one
of plant-based nutrition,” says filmmaker Nelson. “It’s at the root of our
healthcare crisis, affecting the lives
of millions of Americans, the vitality
of our economy and the solvency of
our government.”
Learn more in this issue’s article
“Veggie Nation Revolution,” and visit
PlantPureNation.com for dates and
times of screenings.

ew research from Brigham Young University
indicates that social interaction decreases the risk
of premature death. Scientists conducted an analysis
of actuarial health research from 1980 to 2014 that
included more than 3 million people.
The study found living alone increased the risk
of death by 32 percent, while perceptions of greater social isolation and elevated
loneliness showed 29 percent and 26 percent increased risks of early mortality,
respectively. The results were consistent among both men and women, but the
impact of feelings of isolation or loneliness caused a higher degree of mortality
risk for individuals under the age of 65.
The mortality rates among the lonely and isolated were comparable to those
of individuals that smoked 15 cigarettes a day or were alcoholics. Lead researcher
Julianne Holt-Lunstad, Ph.D., further noted, “The effect of this is comparable to
that of obesity, something that public health takes very seriously.”

Eating Peanuts Early On
Reduces Allergy Risk

P

eanut allergies in Western countries have doubled
during the past decade. A study published in the
New England Journal of Medicine may help reverse
this trend. Researchers found that introducing peanuts during early childhood can
actually decrease the risk of developing a peanut allergy later in life.
The researchers followed 640 children with a high risk of food allergies, beginning when they were between 4 and 11 months old. Half the children were fed
peanuts, while the other half were not given any. All were tested for sensitivities to
peanuts prior to and at the end of the study period, which averaged five years.
The research found that nearly 14 percent of those that avoided peanuts had
a peanut allergy at the end of five years; seven times more than the 2 percent of
those that were fed peanuts and displayed subsequent sensitivity.

MINDFULNESS MEDITATION LOWERS
BLOOD PRESSURE

R

esearch from the University of Virginia and Emory University
has found that just a few minutes of mindfulness meditation a
day can significantly reduce high blood pressure among AfricanAmericans. The research included 15 men with high blood
pressure and chronic kidney disease in a crossover study
that tested each with 14 minutes of mindfulness meditation and compared that with 14 minutes of blood pressure education during two different treatment periods.
Results showed that practicing mindfulness
meditation reduced systolic blood pressure, diastolic
blood pressure, mean arterial pressure and heart rate
among the patients.
natural awakenings

July 2015

7

Flaxseed Oil Soothes
Carpal Tunnel

C

arpal tunnel syndrome is typically accompanied by pain,
numbness and reduced mobility in the hands and wrists.
Research published by the Tehran (Iran) University of Medical
Sciences in the DARU Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences has
determined that the application of external linseed oil—also
referred to as flaxseed oil—can reduce pain and increase
mobility for syndrome sufferers.
The research tested 100 patients with the condition in two groups—one
rubbed placebo oil onto their wrists, while the other applied linseed oil daily over
a four-week period. Both groups wore wrist splints at night.
After the treatment period, those that applied linseed oil experienced a
significant drop in pain scores using the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire and
Function Assessment. The same patients also reported an improvement in mobility
and function.

No Worries: Cats Naturally
Eat Less in Summer

A

study from the University of Liverpool School of Veterinary
Science has found that cats naturally eat less during the
summer, indicating that owners can take such appetite
swings in stride.
The researchers studied 38 cats for four years. Their
collars were implanted with a microchip that recorded
the amount as they ate as much as they wanted from a dispenser. The team found
that cats ate an average of 15 percent less in hot weather. Their eating decreased
from June through August and increased from October to February. Eating levels
were intermediate in the spring and fall.
Study author Dr. Alex German observed, “Cats are more inclined to comfort
eat when it’s cold outside, likely to be due to the extra energy they need to keep
warm when out and about.”

Stress Ramps Up Inflammation

R

esearch led by Peggy Zoccola, Ph.D., an assistant
professor of psychology at Ohio University, has
found that dwelling upon events that are stressful
can significantly increase inflammatory chemicals
in the body. The researchers tested 34 healthy young
women giving public presentations for job interviews.
Afterward, half were asked to contemplate their
performances while the others were asked to think
about neutral events and images.
While all of the women initially experienced significantly higher levels of
C-reactive protein (CRP), the levels continued to rise for at least one hour afterward
for the performance-ruminating group, but returned to normal during the same time
period for those that pondered neutral thoughts.
CRP is produced in the liver and is known to rise following an injury or in a
chronic inflammatory condition. “The immune system plays an important role in
various cardiovascular disorders such as heart disease, as well as cancer, dementia
and autoimmune diseases,” states Zoccola.
8

West Michigan Edition

NaturalWestMichigan.com

Chemicals
Harm Pets, Too

T

he nationwide health epidemic
of chronic diseases afflicting the
human population is also showing up
among companion animals. According to a report by the Environmental
Working Group, pets, like a canary in
a coal mine, may be the environmental sentinels that are now signaling
a clear connection between disease
and manmade chemicals.
In a study that analyzed blood
samples of dogs and cats, 48 of 70
industrial chemicals and pollutants
were traced, many recording levels
that were substantially higher than
previously reported in national studies
of humans. Dogs displayed double the
concentration of perfluorochemicals
(used in stain-proof and grease-proof
coatings); cats evidenced 23 times
the concentration of polybrominated
diphenyl ether (PBDE) fire retardants
and 5.4 times the amount of mercury.
PBDE levels in hyperthyroid cats have
been linked to eating canned cat food
and to the increased use of PBDEs in
consumer products during the past 30
years. In humans, high levels of flameretardant chemicals are implicated in
endocrine disruption, Type 2 diabetes
and thyroid disease.
Suggestions for minimizing
exposure include avoiding chemicalladen household cleaners, furnishings
and carpet; drinking carbon-filtered
water; steering clear of food and beverage containers made from or lined with
plastic (including cans); and eating
organic produce and free-range meat.

Herbs for Performance,
Superfoods Defend
Enhancement and Recovery Against Radiation

O

utdoor summer activities can sometimes leave the body a bit
bruised and battered. While the tendency is to take extra care of
ourselves only after the damage has been done, taking a proactive approach by using herbs to prepare for exertion can cut down on postworkout pain, improve athletic performance and help recovery.
Before heading outside to work out, Nature’s Rite Founder Steven Frank
recommends using sweet marjoram for muscle cramp relief, peppermint leaf
to improve circulation and witch hazel to lubricate muscle fibers. Penelope
Ody’s The Holistic Herbal Directory suggests that using these herbs can also
cut down on discomfort during strenuous physical activity. Devil’s claw can be
applied to provide joint relief.
According to Andrew Chevallier’s Natural Health Encyclopedia of
Herbal Medicine, applying juniper berry to flush lactic acid from muscles
and white willow bark for pain relief can help to offset effects of pushing
the body harder than usual during exercise. After the workout is complete,
Ody’s Natural Health Complete Guide to Medicinal Herbs recommends the
application of comfrey to increase fibroblast activity for building new muscle
fibers and repairing micro-tears in tendons, as well as Arnica montana to
break up micro-clots to clear the way for recovery while easing pain.
Frank says, “Each of these herbs, roots and bark can be combined in
a water decoction to provide the right preparation for outdoor activities.
The mixture should be sprayed on or wiped on large muscle groups and
joints for maximum effectiveness.”
For more information, email SteveF@NaturesRiteRemedies.com or visit
MyNaturesRite.com/blog. See ad, page 9.

T

wo superfoods show
promise for protecting people from radiation
damage—cruciferous vegetables and miso, a food paste made from fermented
soybeans. Scientists have identified a specific chemical byproduct, 3,3’diindolylmethane (DIM), derived
from the digestion of cruciferous vegetables and
especially concentrated in broccoli, that is responsible for the defensive effect. The source of miso’s
beneficial properties needs further investigation, but
appears to stem from the fermentation process.
Research led by Gary Firestone, Ph.D., of the
University of California-Berkley, and physician Eliot
Rosen, Ph.D., of Georgetown University, in Washington, D.C., concluded that administering supplemental DIM before or immediately following lethal levels
of radiation exposure protected rats from immediate
death. If clinical trials with humans are successful,
the compound could be used to minimize acute
radiation sickness.
A comprehensive research review published
in the Journal of Toxicologic Pathology lends
credence to miso’s shielding power. Mice that ate
miso a week before irradiation appeared to be
protected from radiation injury.

Helps ensure deep, steady breathing throughout
the night, improving the efficiency of the lungs
and relaxing muscles to address sleep apnea.

Injury Repair
Ankle sprains, bruises, painful elbows and
shoulders all need help during repair. Bruise,
Strain & Tear Repair clears the bruising and
keeps the healing process going for as long as
you apply it. Get a complete repair naturally.

Sinus Infection
Sinus Relief offers a nasal spray that is
both anti-fungal and anti-bacterial in a
convenient spray bottle. Super Neti Juice
offers the same antimicrobial power with
soothing, subtle peppermint. Powerful
tools to combat germs.

Rash Relief
This powerful herbal lotion is designed to relieve
the pain and itch of eczema. while correcting
the cause and repairing the skin. A healthy and
natural approach to correcting skin rash without
dangerous drugs.

natural awakenings

July 2015

9

globalbriefs
News and resources to inspire concerned citizens to work together in building a
healthier, stronger society that benefits all.

Vermont’s Victory
Court Rules GMO Labeling Constitutional
In April, a federal court denied a request by powerful
food industry groups to block Vermont’s landmark law
requiring the labeling of genetically modified foods
(GMO).The plaintiffs, including the Grocery Manufacturers Association, had sought a preliminary injunction
to stop implementation of Act 120, which passed in
May 2014 and will take effect a year from now.
U.S. District Court Judge Christina Reiss’ ruling
said that the plaintiffs failed to show that they would
suffer “irreparable harm” to warrant an injunction,
and that the state had established that the act’s GMO
disclosure requirement is constitutional.
“This important ruling affirms the constitutionality of genetically engineered
food labeling, as well as the rights of Vermonters and U.S. citizens across the
country,” states George Kimbrell, senior attorney for the Center for Food Safety and
counsel in the case.
The ruling came shortly after an analysis by the Environmental Working
Group found that industry groups spent $63.6 million last year—triple the amount
spent in 2013—to defeat GMO-labeling measures. The general consensus is the
Vermont case is likely to go to trial.

Fresh Catch

Community Supported Fisheries Share Bounty of the Sea
Community supported agriculture is a
growing movement in which subscribers
pay farmers for weekly shares of their
crops before the growing season starts,
benefiting both. The farmers receive an
infusion of cash up front and are paid
a fair price for the food they produce.
Consumers receive fresh food from
sustainable, local farms and are often
introduced to vegetables and fruits they
might not try otherwise.
The same concept applies to new community supported fisheries (CSF), which
reconnect coastal communities to their local food systems. According to Paul
Greenberg, author of American Catch: The Fight for our Local Seafood, 91 percent
of the seafood that Americans eat comes from other countries, while one-third of
the seafood caught by American fishermen is sold outside our borders. He believes
this situation exists because most Americans aren’t willing to pay premium prices
for better seafood and domestic fishermen realize better prices overseas.
By using the website LocalCatch.org/locator to find nearby CSF programs,
pioneering coastal communities can benefit from both supporting sustainable
fishing practices and their local environment while still sufficiently feeding their
residents.
Source: Mother Nature Network
10

West Michigan Edition

NaturalWestMichigan.com

Fracking Fallout

Waterways, Soils and Animals
Poisoned with EPA Approval
Surface disposal of water produced
by oil and gas drilling is forbidden in
the Eastern U.S., but allowed in arid
Western states for purposes of agricultural or wildlife propagation. The
result: Millions of gallons of water
laced with toxic chemicals from oil
and gas drilling rigs are pumped for
consumption by wildlife and livestock
with approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The EPA is issuing permits at
nearly a dozen oil fields on or abutting the Native American Wind River
Reservation, in Wyoming, for surface
application of drilling wastewater
without even identifying the chemicals in fluids used for hydraulic
fracturing, also known as fracking,
let alone setting effluent limits for
the contaminants contained within
them. Also, monitoring requirements
allow water to be tested long after
fracking outflow, or maintenance
flushing, is completed. The EPA
maintains Clean Water Act jurisdiction on tribal lands.
Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) Executive Director Jeff Ruch states, “Gushers of putrid, grayish water encrusted
with chemical crystals flood through
Wind River into nearby streams.”
PEER is asking the EPA to rewrite the
permits to regulate all the chemicals
being discharged and to determine
whether the produced water is potable for wildlife and livestock.
Source: Tinyurl.com/Wastewater
FrackingUse

Protests Needed
Food Industry Fudges GMO Facts
The U.S. Right to Know nonprofit has issued
a report, Seedy Business: What Big Food Is
Hiding with Its Slick PR Campaign on GMOs
(usrtk.org/seedybusiness.pdf). It outlines
the food industry’s campaign to manipulate
the media, public opinion and politics with
disreputable tactics, company-sponsored
science and public relations spin.
Since 2012, the agrichemical and food
industries have mounted a complex, multifaceted public relations, advertising,
lobbying and political campaign in the U.S. spending more than $100 million
per year to defend genetically engineered food and crops and the pesticides
that accompany them, the authors report. The purpose is to deceive the public,
deflect efforts to win the right to know what’s in our food via labeling that’s now
required in 64 countries and ultimately, to extend their profit stream at any cost
to the public for as long as possible.
Highlights include a history of the industry’s tactics to conceal information,
ensure lack of government policy and testing for genetically modified organisms
(GMOs), attack credible scientists and journalists and support untrustworthy
advocates and political machinations.

GMO Gains

Food Supplies Increasingly Under Siege
Three hundred farmers recently took over
the building and interrupted a meeting
where the Brazil National Biosafety Technical Commission was deciding whether or
not to introduce genetically engineered (GE/
GM/GMO) transgenic eucalyptus trees into
their biosphere. These activists and thousands
more around the country have halted plans
temporarily, but the assault continues by international corporations bent on patenting and controlling the environment itself.
At home, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has already approved
the first corporate-sponsored, patented, genetically modified tree, ArborGen’s
loblolly pine. Despite outspoken public opposition, the USDA approved it with no
public oversight nor assessment of the environmental risks it poses.
Grass-fed beef farmers, supplying an alternative that many seek to avoid
GMO feed grain, now have to cope with the advent of genetically modified grass.
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, Monsanto’s exclusive consumer sales agent
for RoundUp glyphosate weed killer, intends to conduct field trials at the homes
of company employees absent government oversight, because no laws currently
prohibit or limit the planting of GMO grass.
In February, the government approved the first genetically modified apple
for commercial planting. The Arctic apple is part of a growing list of sanctioned
GMO fresh produce, including papaya and sweet corn. A gene within the apple is
altered so it resists browning and bruising.
Many people die or go blind from vitamin A deficiency, so the Gates Foundation has funded research by Australia’s Queensland University of Technology to
create a vitamin-enhanced, GMO “super banana”. Testing on humans will take
place in the U.S. over a six-week period and researchers aim to start growing the
fruit in Uganda by 2020.
Sign concerned-citizen petitions at Tinyurl.com/Credo-No-GMO-Trees and
Tinyurl.com/Care2-No-GMO-Grass.

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n As seen on the “Today” show
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natural awakenings

July 2015

11

globalbriefs
Bee Aware
Lowe’s to Stop Selling Toxic Pesticides
Lowe’s Home Improvement says it will begin to
eliminate neonicotinoid pesticides, a leading
contributor to global bee declines, from its stores.
This public commitment is the most significant
announcement so far for a retailer of its size.
Lisa Archer, a spokesperson for Friends of the
Earth, says, “We are pleased Lowe’s is listening
to consumer concerns and to the growing body
of science telling us we need to move away from
bee-toxic pesticides by taking steps to be part of the solution to the bee crisis.”
The retailer has pledged to phase out neonicotinoids as suitable alternatives become available, redouble existing integrated pest management practices for suppliers
and provide additional materials for educating customers about pollinator health.

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in Pioneer States

Source: Tinyurl.com/LowesHelpsBees

Mushroom Magic

Fungi Clean Up Toxic Wastes
For waterways, soil or even radioactively contaminated areas, the powerful use of mycelium
to sequester contaminants is receiving significant
attention. Leading American mycologist Paul
Stamets, the pioneering founder of Fungi Perfecti,
has been working for years with mycore mediation, using mycelium to clean up waste sites. He holds nine patents on the antiviral, pesticidal and remediative properties of mushroom mycelia. Stamets even has
an eight-step plan for cleaning up radioactive poisoning and thinks fungi could
remediate radiation at the melted reactor sites in Fukushima, Japan.
The Ocean Blue Project (OceanBlueProject.org), based in Corvallis, Texas,
uses locally grown oyster mushroom spores lodged in a coffee grounds mixture.
Then they create a “bunker spawn” that’s put into a river to restore polluted aquatic habitat. As the mushrooms grow, they break down toxins and remove pollutants
from the river. Mycore mediation also helps with weed control.
Source: Permaculture.co.uk

Two years in the making, the Topaz
Solar Project, the world’s largest,
has begun operating in California, powerful enough to supply
160,000 homes using 9 million
photovoltaic solar panels installed
across 9.5 square miles. Compared
to fossil fuel technology, the facility is projected to remove 377,000
tons of carbon dioxide each year;
equivalent to taking 73,000 cars off
the road. Unlike some solar plants,
Topaz requires no water to generate electricity and makes minimal
sound because there are no moving parts, so its total environmental
impact is minimal.
In Hawaii, where 12 percent of
homes have solar panels, handling
surplus power is putting pressure
on the state’s biggest utility, which
now wants to reduce what it pays
for the energy. Electricity there is
pricey, with monthly bills of $600 to
$700 not uncommon. The growing
popularity of making electricity at
home puts new pressures on old infrastructure like circuits and power
lines and cuts into electric company
revenue. As a result, many utilities
are reducing incentives and adding
steep fees. “Hawaii is a postcard from
the future,” says Adam Browning,
executive director of Vote Solar, a
policy and advocacy group based
in California.

Protest Songs

Rocker Neil Young
Celebrates Food
Democracy with New
Album Tour
photo by DFree/Shutterstock.com

Legendary musician Neil Young
and his new band, Promise
of the Real, featuring Willie
Nelson’s sons Lukas and Micah
Nelson, are calling out agribusiness giant Monsanto’s practices
with a new album and summer
concert tour. The band’s Rebel
Content tour to support their new album The Monsanto Years
will kick off on July 5 in Milwaukee and includes Young’s firstever concert in Vermont, in Essex Junction, on July 19, a state
that passed a law requiring food companies to label products
that contain genetically modified ingredients.
Young, a longtime critic of big agribusiness, has sharply
criticized efforts by the Grocery Manufacturers Association to
block the Vermont GMO labeling law. “Whatever you think of
GMOs,” he maintains, “corporations should not be using massive lawsuits to overturn legitimate, democratic decisions that
have strong public backing.”
The tour also encompasses Denver, July 8 and 9; Lincoln, Nebraska, July 11; Cincinnati, July 13; Clarkston, Michigan, July 14;
Camden, New Jersey, July 16; Bethel, New York, July 17; Wantagh,
New York, July 21; Great Woods, Massachusetts, July 22; and OroMedonte, Ontario, July 24. Other dates may be added.
For more information, visit NeilYoung.com.

Eco-Friendly Methods Available

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844-IVY-GONE

How You Birth Matters!

Bug Food

Protein-Rich Insects May Be Food of the Future
As the world’s population grows, it makes sense to decrease consumption of animal protein. Approximately 70 percent of agricultural land and 30 percent of the total land on Earth is currently
used to raise livestock, the world’s main source of protein. “Insects
require less feed, water, land and energy to produce and their
production generates substantially lower environmental pollutants, such as pesticides and greenhouse gases,” says Aaron Dossey,
Ph.D., owner of All Things Bugs, in Gainesville, Florida, a company
that provides protein-rich insect powder for commercial use.
“Some insects are as much as 80 percent protein by weight
and provide more essential amino acids than most other animal
proteins,” reports Dossey. “They are also rich in nutrients like
omega-3 fatty acids.” For example, on a dry-weight basis, crickets contain as much omega-3 fatty acids as salmon.
Florence Dunkel, Ph.D., an associate professor of entomology at Montana State University and editor of The Food Insects Newsletter, states, “Eighty-five insect species in the U.S.
are documented as potential food sources; worldwide, there
are 1,900 species.” She cites locusts, grasshoppers, crickets,
silk moth pupae and beetle and moth larvae among the top
insects consumed as food worldwide.
Watch a video at Tinyurl.com/InsectsAsFood.

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ecotip
Soil Savers

The Need to Protect Precious Native Topsoils
American states salute their native identities and characteristics in many ways, including official birds and flowers. Home farmers, growers and gardeners can relish that
soils also bear official state designations, including New
York’s Honeoye, South Carolina’s Lynchburg, Alabama’s
Bama, Iowa’s Tama and California’s San Joaquin. All these
different types of earth are threatened by widespread use
of pesticides, topsoil degradation and other factors that severely hamper their integrity.
The U.N. General Assembly declared 2015 as the International Year of Soils,
saluting its many roles, including storing and filtering water, providing resilience to
drought, participating in the carbon cycle and being the foundation for agriculture.
According to The Land Institute, the loss of topsoil is the greatest threat to our food
supply. Planting perennial crops, agroforestry, intercropping and other agro-ecological practices can help conserve soils, preventing erosion and protecting water.
According to GreenLiving.com, these sustainable practices can help prevent
soil erosion:
Reduce impervious surfaces. Driveways, patios and lanais allow precipitation to
flow freely over them, gaining momentum in the process, to erode topsoil. Use paving
stones rather than a concrete slab to allow water to percolate down into the soil.
Plant a rain garden. As a shallow depression in the yard, a rain garden collects
precipitation washing over impervious surfaces, preventing soil erosion and facilitating growth of wetland plants.
Use a rain barrel. Placing a barrel underneath a downspout will collect and
store water that runs off roofs, making it available for watering plants even when
rain is sporadic. It supports both water and soil conservation efforts.
Consider innovative products. Fiber mulch mats—small, biodegradable particles of wood, straw, coconut and other natural plant materials interlocked with
mulch—blend with soil to keep moisture in the topsoil by acting as a top coating.
(Review representative manufacturers’ products at LandscapePlanet.com and
ErosionPollution.com.)
Find the official soil for each state at Tinyurl.com/NativeStateSoils.

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Zeeland, MI 49464

communityspotlight
by Julie Hurley

V

ikki Nestico, Registered Acupuncturist (R.Ac.) and founder/owner of
Grand Wellness in Grand Rapids, says
that most people come to acupuncture
for acute or chronic pain relief, and are
often surprised to find out the many conditions acupuncture can treat.
“Chinese Medicine is a sophisticated medical system that has been treating
disease for thousands of years,” says Nestico. “It focuses on balancing the energy
of the body which leaves very few conditions for which it is not beneficial. There
is a lot of medical research that proves
the efficacy of acupuncture for so many
different medical conditions.”
The National Institute of Health
(NIH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes acupuncture to
be effective in the treatment of a wide
variety of medical problems, including:
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Nestico was drawn to acupuncture
as a career choice due to some health
issues she experienced while growing up.
“I developed some health issues starting
around age 11,” says Nestico. “I was taking
a bunch of medication and had multiple
hospital visits.” After three years of living in

New York, she discovered acupuncture
when she was 24 years old. “Western
doctors told me I’d be chronically ill,
but after I started acupuncture, I was
never sick again in that manner, and
had stopped all medication.”
Nestico specializes in Traditional
Chinese Medicine (TCM), which includes acupuncture, and places significant importance on lifestyle changes
and eliminating stress. “TCM has a
different way of looking at the body,”
says Nestico. “My goal is for people to
be free from the root of the problem.”
Nestico helps people find balance
in their lives and to achieve optimal
health. “I spend a lot of time with my
patients; for me, the answer is in their
story. Sometimes the problem can
be obvious, but other times it has to
be talked out. For example, a patient
could be holding onto the emotions
from a past tragedy. In TCM, we understand emotion plays a large role in our
health and well-being, and we have
ways to treat that,” says Nestico.
Though technically defined as
a client/patient relationship, Nestico
sees herself as a partner in her patient’s
journey toward wellness. “Though I
provide medical care and treatment,
I work with people; they are active
participants in their wellness. My office
is a safe and comfortable environment
to heal. Society has taken the onus of
our health away from us - ‘here take
this prescription’. If that doesn’t work
‘try another’. This system is not working for everyone, as evidenced by the
many chronic conditions that many of
us experience,” says Nestico.
Nestico compared today’s health
care with the concept of medicine
in ancient China, which focused on
disease prevention: Every village had

a Chinese medical doctor. He was paid
by the village’s inhabitants to keep
them healthy. When you got sick, you
stopped paying the doctor until you
made a full recovery.
It’s so easy in today’s society to
go for the quick fix of a pill or even
surgery. However, in many cases, those
methods don’t get to the root cause of
the problem, and come with another set
of problems in the form of side effects.
Nestico says that while pharmaceuticals
can come with unwanted side effects,
the side effects of acupuncture are better sleep, more energy and improved
digestion, all of which are necessary for
the body to heal.
Nestico lived in Troy, Michigan until
she was 21, when she moved to Brooklyn where she met her husband and
had two children. There, they quickly
outgrew their 700 square foot apartment.
After a couple of visits back to Grand
Rapids to visit with her family, she and
her husband (who is from England) decided to relocate to East Grand Rapids.
“It’s beautiful here, and a great place to
raise a family; there are so many things
to do with children in West Michigan.”
Nestico says that the greatest
reward from her profession is to hear
back from someone who feels so much
better. “That’s why we’re in it,” she says.
“We help people get well, and then
have them back in for maintenance
treatments for prevention. I suggest
seasonally, as many changes occur on
a seasonal cycle. I want people to find
balance and help them on their journey
to good health.”
Grand Wellness is located at Renewal
Skin Spa on 28th St. in Grand Rapids.
For more information, visit GrandWellness.net or email Vikki@GrandWellness.
net. See ads, page 27 & 45.

effrey Smith is the
founder and executive director of the
Institute for Responsible
Technology, author of
Seeds of Deception
and director of the
documentary Genetic
Roulette: The Gamble
of Our Lives. Smith
and his organization’s
Campaign for Healthier
Eating in America are
spearheading consumer
rejection of genetically modified foods
(GM/GMO) in order to force them off
the market.

What basics should everyone
know about GMOs?
Genetic engineering is different from
traditional crossbreeding. In engineering
six major GMO crops—soy, corn, cotton, canola, sugar beets and alfalfa—a
gene from a virus or bacteria was forced
into the DNA of the plants. Derivatives
such as soy lecithin, soy protein, highfructose corn syrup and sugar (unless
labeled as cane sugar) are in the vast
majority of processed foods.

Many U.S. consumers mistakenly
believe that the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) approves GMO
crops only after careful study. Instead,
the agency claimed it wasn’t aware of
any significant difference from other
food crops and declared safety testing
unnecessary. In reality, according to
FDA documents later made public in
a lawsuit, the consensus among FDA

NaturalWestMichigan.com

scientists was that
GMOs were different
and dangerous and
needed rigorous, longterm testing to prevent
allergies, toxins, new
diseases and nutritional
problems.
When the George
W. Bush administration
ordered the agency to
promote biotechnology
as a way to increase
U.S. food exports, the
FDA responded by creating a new position of Deputy Commissioner of Policy
for Michael R. Taylor, a former Monsanto
attorney. He later became a Monsanto
vice president and is now back at the
FDA as the U.S. food safety czar.

Why is Roundup, Monsanto’s
weed killer for GMO crops,
so toxic?
Monsanto portrays Roundup as a
benevolent herbicide. This is a lie.
Glyphosate, its active patented ingredient, alters biochemical pathways in
the body. Scientists such as Anthony
Samsel and Stephanie Seneff have
linked glyphosate to numerous diseases
and disorders, including cancer, heart
disease, diabetes, gluten sensitivity,
Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, depression,
autism and reproductive disorders. In
March, the World Health Organization
declared it a probable carcinogen.

How can we avoid unlabeled
GMO foods?
Eat organic foods, which are not allowed to contain GM ingredients, or
products that are labeled non-GMO,

or those that don’t contain derivatives
of the current nine GMO food crops,
which now include some zucchini,
yellow squash and papaya grown in
Hawaii or China. Any packaged grocery
product not labeled “Non-GMO” or
“Organic” is likely to contain at least
one GMO; this includes meat and dairy
products, from animals that have eaten
GM feed.
NonGMOShoppingGuide.com is a
reliable resource that lists about 30,000
non-GMO products. A non-GMO diet
is recommended by thousands of doctors, as well as the American Academy
of Environmental Medicine.

What more can “we the people”
do to eradicate GMOs?
We are in control, not government agencies. I believe that promoting a stronger
message—that GMOs are dangerous
and should be avoided—would better
serve consumers and the food-labeling
movement. High-profile campaigns will
continue educating consumers about the
dangers of GMOs and the necessity of
rejecting them in favor of healthier nonGMO choices, especially for children
that are most at risk.
The desired result is that food
companies will feel the loss of profits and remove GMOs as a liability.
The tipping point in the U.S. is almost
here. In 2013, the president of Whole
Foods announced that when a product
becomes verified as non-GMO, sales
leap by 15 to 30 percent. Thousands of
natural product brands were immediately enrolled for verification.
Now conventional brands such
as Post Foods’ Grape Nuts, Target’s
Simply Balanced brand, Ben & Jerry’s
ice cream and Chipotle’s restaurant
menu are GMO-free. General Mills
stopped using GMO beet sugar in
Cheerios. When the rest of the food
industry sees these non-GMO-labeled
products increase in sales in conventional supermarkets, they will be forced
to eliminate GMOs as well, to protect
their market share.
Visit ResponsibleTechnology.org and
GeneticRouletteMovie.com to educate
everyone about the dangers of GMOs.
Connect with writer Linda Sechrist at
ItsAllAboutWe.com.

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ere’s how to entertain the kids,
keep them healthy and get them
outdoors this summer.

Where to Go

Traveling to iconic natural wonders
like the Blue Ridge Mountains, Niagara
Falls or the Grand Canyon isn’t the
only awe-inspiring way to captivate
children’s attention and help them
contemplate nature’s beauties. As Brian
Ettling, a seasonal ranger at Crater
Lake National Park, in Oregon, likes to
remind park visitors, “Find your own
sacred place and keep going there; it
could be a wooded area by your house
or a county, state or local park.”
Visits to in-state parks are easy to
fit into a family’s summer plans and
can generate lifelong treasured family
traditions. Participating in programs or
other exploratory adventures stimulate
creative and critical thinking, challenge
outdoor and athletic skills and can even
teach life lessons.
July is America’s Parks and Recreation Month, first designated by the
20

West Michigan Edition

NaturalWestMichigan.com

National Recreation and Park Association
(NRPA) in 1985. NRPA makes it easy to
tap into what’s happening in local parks
or wherever family members may be
traveling. Events around the country can
be found by visiting nrpa.org/july.

What to Do

Biologist Rachel Carson, the mother of
the modern-day environmental movement, wrote, “If a child is to keep alive
his inborn sense of wonder, he needs
the companionship of at least one adult
who can share it, rediscovering with
him the joy, excitement and mystery of
the world we live in.” In this addictive
digital age, it can sometimes be challenging to find exciting ways to help
children connect with nature.
Jessica Culverhouse, NRPA senior
manager and a volunteer master naturalist, offers ways to channel digital
habits. “Free apps like the electronic
field guide Leafsnap and mobile games
like Agents of Nature can be great tools
to engage kids with the outdoors with
their technology still in hand,” she says.

Parks maintained by a
range of entities are jewels
to be discovered, cherished
and preserved.
Another idea is a simple nature scavenger hunt using a smartphone camera.
If weekend camping is of interest,
in-state parks are convenient and
also easy on the budget. The National
Wildlife Federation (NWF) makes the
first step easy with tips and suggested
activities through their Great American
Campout (nwf.org/great-americancampout.aspx). This summer-long celebration of camping encourages everyone
to take the pledge to camp, which helps
fuel the conversation and initial planning, whether camping in a backyard or
local, state or national park.
Last year, the Carlson family took
the pledge and first camped out in Big
Basin State Park, only 20 miles from
their home in Santa Cruz, California. “It
was an incredible weekend none of us

will ever forget; a world away, but right
in our backyard!” they cheer.
Garden for Wildlife, another popular NWF program, connects people with
their local habitats. Girl Scout butterfly
heroes in Wyckoff, New Jersey, learned
how. “Our troop was looking for a way
to provide a community service for their
bronze award project,” says Wendy
Rosica, co-leader of Troop 94686. “We
chose to create a Monarch Way Station
garden in a new community park in our
neighborhood. Specifically designed as a
space for the butterflies to breed and eat
during their annual migrations, it’s not
only a beautiful addition to the park, but
also a positive way for the Girl Scouts to
help area residents learn more about the
plight of Monarchs and other pollinators.”
National Audubon Society nature
centers are an accessible local resource
(Audubon.org/audubon-near-you).
Families learn more about native birds
and Audubon hiking trails, and naturalist
presentations enhance explorations of the
region’s habitats. Local native plant and
animal species are disappearing at alarm-

ing rates and need habitat stewardship by
present and future generations (Climate.
Audubon.org).
Our in-state parks are wellsprings of
life from which children and adults can
draw throughout our lives, enabling us to
discover the splendor and uniqueness of
nature right in our own community and
backyard. When we see and feel directly
what’s at stake, we’ll fight harder and
more consciously to protect and preserve it. As Carson eloquently observed
in The Sense of Wonder, nature can help
us all find reserves of strength that will
endure as long as life lasts.
Harriet Shugarman, of Ridgewood, New
Jersey, chairs local and regional environmental committees and works with
national, state and local organizations
seeking pro-environmental legislation.
Connect at ClimateMama.com.

natural awakenings

July 2015

21

Stand Up Paddleboards
Spell Family Fun
by Lauressa Nelson

M

“

ost kids growing up in Chattanooga have crossed the
Tennessee River via the Walnut Street pedestrian bridge; far fewer
have been on the river beneath it,”
remarks Mark Baldwin, owner of area
paddle sports outfitter L2 Boards. Using
stand up paddleboards (SUP), he loves
guiding adults and children on their

22

West Michigan Edition

own up-close discoveries of the river’s
cliffs, caves, fish, turtles and birds.
Waterways are enchanting at any
age, and SUP recreation naturally tends
to inspire creative quests. Its physical and developmental benefits are
a bonus. “The stand up paddleboard
is the bicycle of the water. Because
paddleboarding can be done at any age

NaturalWestMichigan.com

photos courtesy of SURFit USA (SURFITUSA.com)

Paddle-Happy

and fitness level, the whole family can
enjoy it together,” says Kristin Thomas,
a mother of three in Laguna Beach,
California, SUP race champion and
executive director of the Stand Up
Paddle Industry Association.
“Children are fascinated by the
play of the water and the motion
of the board. Parents can acclimate
an infant to flat-water paddling by
simply creating a well of towels
onboard, with the baby snuggled
between the feet, looking up at
them,” advises Lili Colby, owner of
MTI Adventurewear, near Boston, Massachusetts, which makes life jackets for
paddle sports. She notes that U.S. Coast
Guard law requires that children 30
pounds and under wear infant life jackets to provide special head and neck
support that turns a baby’s face up with
an open airway within three seconds of
entering the water.
It’s a good idea to first practice
paddling short distances in shallow
waters near the shore. Toddlers are
more likely to lean overboard to play
in the water, Colby cautions, so engaging in nature-inspired games along the
way will help occupy them onboard.
“Young children introduced to water sports in the context of positive family interaction typically become eager
to paddle on their own,” observes Tina
Fetten, owner of Southern Tier Stand
Up Paddle Corp., who leads a variety of
SUP experiences throughout New York
and northern Pennsylvania. “If they are

strong swimmers, I bring them on a large
board with me and teach them the skills
for independent paddling.”
Although SUP boards look like
surfboards, stand up paddling is commonly taught on flat water, making
it easier and more stable than surfing. Still, swimming competence and
adult supervision are prerequisites to
independent paddling according to
paramedic Bob Pratt, co-founder of the
Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, which
leads water safety classes in Illinois,
Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin.
“Parents should outfit all children
with a life jacket, Coast Guard-approved
for their age and weight, as well as a
leash, which attaches to their ankle and
the board with Velcro straps,” Pratt says.
“If children fall into the water, a tug of

the leash enables them to quickly retrieve
their largest floatation device, the board.”
Experts agree that success is relatively easy, so children build confidence
quickly. The sport can be adapted to suit
individual needs and positions, including moving from standing to sitting
or kneeling, says Fetten, who teaches
adaptive SUP lessons in a community
pool. As she sees firsthand, “All children,
especially those with disabilities, benefit
from the empowering feeling of attaining
independent success.”
“A water-based sport is the healthiest
outlet children can have,” attests Wesley
Stewart, founder of Urban Surf 4 Kids, a
San Diego nonprofit that offers free SUP
and surf clinics for foster children. “Being
on the water requires kids to focus on
what they’re doing and has the ability to

clear their minds and give them freedom.
It’s like meditation. Plus, SUP is a lowimpact, cross-training cardio activity; it
works every part of the body.”
Beyond the basic benefits, SUP
keeps children engaged by offering
endless opportunities to explore the
geographic and ecological diversity of
different types of waterways. SUP activities and levels can grow along with
children; teens can try yoga on water,
competitive racing and the advanced
challenges of surfing. Fitness is a bonus
to the rewarding ability to propel one’s
self through the water.
SUP enthusiast Lauressa Nelson is
a freelance writer in Orlando, FL,
and a contributing editor for
Natural Awakenings.

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Tamarac, The Center for Health
and Well-Being
231.924.7800
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After
natural awakenings

July 2015

23

their community, whether animals are
treated humanely, if family farmers and
other food workers are paid a living
wage and can collectively bargain and
whether people have access to safe,
healthy food—as well as the right to
know what is in their food, how it is
produced and where it comes from.”
Peck believes that if we want a
cleaner environment, healthier people
and more vibrant communities, “We
need to be citizens that care about
bringing democratic accountability,
social justice and ecological integrity to
all aspects of our food/farm system.”

Local Food Strengthens
Communities

Food
Democracy
By the People, for the People and
Toward a Stronger Nation
by Melinda Hemmelgarn

T

o more fully understand the
concept of democracy, we can
look to some past U.S. presidents.
Abraham Lincoln defined it as “government of the people, by the people, for
the people.” Thomas Jefferson said, “An
informed citizenry is at the heart of a
dynamic democracy.” Harry S Truman
further recognized that “secrecy and a
free, democratic government don’t mix.”
By extension, “food democracy”
describes a fair and transparent food
system in which people have informed
choices and control in determining
what and how they eat. It’s what happens when we view people as citizens,
rather than consumers, and treat food
as a human right, reports the Oakland,
California-based Pesticide Action
Network (PAN).
Kelly Moltzen, a registered dietitian in Bronx, New York, and member
of the Franciscan Earth Corps, defines it
as having the freedom to make choices
about the integrity of our food from
farm to plate, so that we can support
the health and well-being of ourselves,
24

West Michigan Edition

the Earth and all organisms that inhabit
the ecosystem.

Food Sovereignty
Feeds Independence

A PAN report on food democracy describes food sovereignty as the international equivalent of the U.S. movement
to re-localize control over our food
and farming. It’s rooted in regenerating
historically autonomous food systems
with, for and by the people.
John Peck, Ph.D., executive
director of Family Farm Defenders, in
Madison, Wisconsin, explains that the
term “food sovereignty” was coined
about two decades ago by the globally
active La Via Campesina, comprised of
family farmers, farm workers, fishing
folks, hunters, gatherers and indigenous
communities around the world.
“At its most basic,” Peck says,
“Food sovereignty is about reclaiming
local democratic control over our food/
farm system from corporate agribusiness.” This way, “Everyone has the right
to decide what is grown or raised in

NaturalWestMichigan.com

In their report, Deepening Food Democracy, the Institute of Agriculture
and Trade Policy (IATP), in Minneapolis,
describes how U.S. food and farming
has increasingly become concentrated,
consolidated and controlled by the few.
Local food enthusiasts want to take
back their food system from industrial,
corporate masters that lobby for legislation which denies citizens the right to
know how their food is produced or if
it contains genetically modified ingredients (GMO). The growing local food
movement is as much about returning
power to communities, food workers,
farmers and farm workers as it is about
producing and distributing healthy, sustainably grown food, reports IATP.
Anthony Flaccavento, an organic
farmer in the Appalachian region of
southwestern Virginia, has been working on national food and sustainable
farming initiatives for nearly 30 years.
In a recent Food Sleuth Radio interview,
he described the resulting tremendous,
multiple positive impacts of strong local
economies, noting that a strong local
food system is usually at their center.
“Once you have vibrant, diverse
local economies,” says Flaccavento,
“you have better health, lower crime
and incarceration rates—and more
civic participation.” Basically, a more
democratic food system could help fix
many of the maladies ailing our nation
today. The steady growth of farmers’
markets, farm to school programs and
food policy councils prove that Americans are hungry both for clean food
and an enhanced sense of community.

While Flaccavento
appreciates conscious consumers
that support local
food providers, he
emphasizes, “Just
acting locally isn’t
enough. We need
to re-engage with
bigger social and
political debates,
as well.”

In a food democracy,
everyone is a stakeholder.
Not only do people have
equal access to food, but
they’re informed, active,
engaged and participating.

revitalized a community garden and
converted a blighted
lot into a Guerrilla Garden, where
people of all ages
gather to grow food,
share stories, embrace their cultural
~Rose Hayden-Smith, author, heritage and learn
Sowing the Seeds of Victory how to become
responsible citizens.
“We bring
people
together
and
make
decisions
Growing Vegetables
collectively,” says Mwendo. “The garand Democracy
den is for our community, by our comAfter Hurricane Katrina hit New Ormunity.” Understanding the value of
leans, Jenga Mwendo knew she had
involving children and teens, she adds,
to leave her high-powered job in New
“Kids know they will be loved here.
York City and return to her hometown
This is a nurturing environment.”
in the devastated Lower Ninth Ward.
Like Mwendo, Stephen Ritz, a top
“My parents raised me to contribute,”
10 finalist in the Varkey Foundation’s
Mwendo explains. “My first name
Global Teacher Prize, is reaching youth
means ‘to build’ and my last name
through food. Based in New York City’s
means ‘always progressing’.”
South Bronx, one of the country’s poor
In 2009, Mwendo founded the
est school districts, he and his students
Backyard Gardeners Network (BGN),
are growing vegetables in school, therea local nonprofit organization that
by improving children’s diets, health,
restores and strengthens what had once
school performance and future potential.
been a thriving, closely knit, self-reliant
“We are contributing to food democracy
community, rich with backyard gardens
by making sure every child we touch,
and citizen engagement. Residents
regardless of income, zip code and skin
went to work, recognizing the potencolor, faith or nation of origin, has actial of community gardens to revitalize
cess to fresh, healthy, nutritious food that
their neighborhood and bring affordthey help grow,” says Ritz.
able healthful food to residents, many
So far, his Green Bronx Machine
of them suffering from obesity, heart
community has raised 30,000 pounds
disease and diabetes. The BGN both
of vegetables. “We’re growing justice,”

Ritz announced in his March 2015
TED Talk. “My favorite crop is organically grown citizens—graduates, voters
and students who are eating [better] and
living healthier lives!”

Kitchen Gardens
Nourish the World

Roger Doiron is the founder and
director of Kitchen Gardeners International (KGI), an online global community of some 30,000 people in 100
countries that are growing some of
their own food. He spearheaded First
Lady Michelle Obama’s White House
Garden. Doiron’s campaign to bring a
food garden back to the White House
(presidents John Adams, Jefferson and
Jackson all had edible gardens) began
in 2008, went viral, took root and the
rest is history. Today, the first lady continues to champion garden-fresh food
to improve children’s health.
From his own 1,500-square-foot garden in Scarborough, Maine, Doiron and
his wife harvested 900 pounds of organic
fruits and vegetables worth $2,200 in a
single season. “Talented gardeners with
more generous soils and climates are able
to produce even more food in less space,”
he says, “but maximizing production is
not our only goal. We’re also trying to
maximize pleasure and health.”
Doiron believes, “Quality food is
central to well-being and is one of the
best ways to unite people of different
countries and cultures around a com-

mon, positive agenda.” He’s convinced
that kitchen gardens will play a critical
role in feeding a growing population
faced with climate challenges. On July
4, his organization celebrates Food
Independence Day as a way to recognize the role of home and community
gardens in achieving self-sufficiency.

Saving Seeds,
Saving Democracy

Jim Gerritsen operates Wood Prairie
Farm with his family in Bridgewater,
Maine. He’s dedicated to using organic
farming methods to protect the environment and food quality, provide ample
harvests and foster good jobs for the
next generation of young farmers.
As president of the Organic Seed
Growers and Trade Association, Gerritsen led a lawsuit against Monsanto in
2011, challenging the validity of seed
patents. In a Food Sleuth Radio interview, he explains, “Patented seeds can-

FOLLOW
US!

not be saved and replanted. To take that
right away from farmers was a terrible
mistake on the part of the Supreme
Court.” Seed ownership belongs to the
people; our seed resource is part of our
common heritage. “Genetic engineering was an invention to take away from
the commons the ownership of seeds,”
he continues. “Regaining control of the
seed supply is one of the most pressing
battles we have in agriculture.” Gerritsen encourages everyone to plant an
organic garden using organic seeds and
to advocate GMO labeling.
“Let’s let transparency reign,
which is a hallmark of a democratic
system,” he proclaims.
Melinda Hemmelgarn is a registered
dietitian and award-winning writer
and nationally syndicated radio host
at KOPN.org, in Columbia, MO (Food
Sleuth@gmail.com). She advocates for
organic farmers at Enduring-Image.
blogspot.com.

National Count of Farmers’
Market Directory Listings

NaturallyWestMI

Nationwide tracking of farmers’ markets that listed fewer than 1,800 in 1994
now numbers nearly 8,300 20 years later.
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture
26

Awakenings group on
facebook and we’ll
directly alert you of
upcoming happenings

Seed Savers Exchange
SeedSavers.org

and events.

Food Sleuth Radio KOPN.org

Table of the Earth
EatLocalSimpleSteps.com

Food Voices: Stories from the People
Who Feed Us FoodVoices.org

Union of Concerned Scientists
ucsusa.org

N

Join our Natural

From Food Consumer
to Food Citizen

ow is the time for all good men
and women to become food citizens. Making the transition from being
a mere consumer to community citizen
requires addressing a set of questions
geared to lead to food truth and justice
for all.
n Where does my food come from?
n Who produced it?
n Under what conditions was this
food grown or produced; were
workers treated fairly and animals
humanely?

n What’s in or on my food; am I eating pesticides, antibiotics, hormones,
genetically modified ingredients or
additives?
n What might be the unintended consequences of my food choices for farmers competing against big agribusiness
and striving to do the right thing?
n How might my choices affect the
environment and future generations?
n What local, state and national
policies stand in the way of a fair and
transparent food system?

Find us @:
Natural Awakenings
Magazine of West Michigan
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a FREE consultation call: 616-940-1177
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Grand Rapids,
MI 49546

July 2015

27

communityspotlight
by Amanda Grasmeyer

W

hen the word “recovery” is mentioned, it’s not uncommon for
people to quickly assume that doctor bills,
long-standing prescriptions or surgeries are
going to be involved. It’s also not uncommon for people to wonder if they’ll ever
have the same good quality of life they
once had before their illness or pain.
At Holistic Nutrition Center in Holland, owner, Pamela Zinn MS, is working fervently to help people recover
without the large bills, long-standing
prescriptions or maybe unnecessary
surgeries. She’s working hard to help
people recover and have the quality of
life they truly desire.
After graduating from Hope College, Zinn then got into nursing, a
field in which she worked for 30 years
before she came down with an illness
that had her bed-ridden for a couple of
years. Zinn sought out help from numerous doctors during this time, trying
to recover her life from an illness that
seemed irrecoverable. At her wit’s end,
Zinn was ready to give up when her
husband found a doctor who did nutrition as a side hobby. Together, she and
the doctor made manageable an illness
that once threatened to take her life.
Eventually, she recovered to the quality
of life she desired, got a master’s degree
in nutrition and was able to get out,
ride her bike and enjoy life once again.
Today, Zinn continues to help
others work toward recovery through
nutrigenomics and personalized nutrition, looking at health history, treatments, the diet her clients like to be on
and nutritional testing. She provides
a less-toxic, alternative option that focuses on the gut, brain and the immune
system, how those three interact with
each other and what each individual

28

West Michigan Edition

client needs to keep their health in balance. In doing so, Zinn is seeking out
the underlying problem or the cause of
the symptoms her client is experiencing. Where doctors simply try to stop
the symptoms by treating them with
prescriptions or surgery, Zinn attempts
to help the body work according to
normal physiology. When the symptoms
start to go away and the body stabilizes
from a better diet, targeted nutrition can
be used to make more improvements
to whole body function. That translates
to a person feeling better and seeing
improvements in energy level, sleep,
mental clarity and more.
Zinn’s approach opens up the door
for healthier, manageable treatment. Of
her approach she says, “Let’s find the
underlying problem. Let’s fix it. Let’s
do it quickly and get you out of here
so you’re not dependent on me or any
other treatment. I want people to be
able to do what they want to do—to
find true health and have the quality
of life that they want.” She’s looking to
help her clients find a better lifestyle
with an abundance of energy and brain
focus and a good quality of life.
While recovery time varies depending on the client, Zinn expects her clients to at least start to feel better in three
weeks. If she doesn’t get those results at
that point, that’s when she starts testing.
She works with many clients who
have chronic health conditions and has
often helped them find their journey to
recovery one small step at a time. Zinn
says, “To me, that’s so rewarding. I see
a lot of improvement in people. Even
with a serious diagnosis you can use
nutrition to help people feel better and
boost their quality of life.”

NaturalWestMichigan.com

Initially being a part of the medical industry for so long, and then being
the patient herself, Zinn’s specialty has
become those who have tried everything,
who feel like nobody’s listening to them,
and don’t know where to go to get the information they truly need. She confirms,
“The information is out there. I can find
it quickly because of my background as
a nurse and as a clinical nutritionist who
uses current nutrition science such as
nutragenomics and the gut-microbiome.
I’ve found numerous little ‘snip-its’ that
aren’t well known that can help people.
If people can learn these things, they can
change their future.”
From her own experience with
recovery from such a debilitating illness, Zinn’s hunger for information in
the field has grown. She acknowledges
that people can get a whole lot farther
with their health if they’re catching on
to managing their own health. So long
as people choose to do it, and make
the effort on their own, a lot of change
can happen within their bodies,
meaning ultimately, people do have
some control over their lives and can
improve the quality.
While many people assume that
everyone needs to be on the same diet
(which is why many have tried fad
eating habits) in order to improve their
quality of life, this is not necessarily
true. Each person really needs his/her
own diet to cater to their own body to
help it work in the best way that it can,
which is why Zinn’s solution is always
personalized nutrition. Zinn explains,
“Every person is like a puzzle. It’s just a
matter of finding the right puzzle pieces
and putting them back in.”
For example, Zinn confesses, “For
me, blueberries are like poison. It’s not

going to be like that for everyone obviously. Blueberries trigger an autoimmune reaction that causes me to have
headaches, heart pain and palpitations
and painful arthritic red joints. Problems like these often result in appointments with specialists - neurologists,
cardiologists and/or rheumatologists. My underlying problem, a food
sensitivity issue, was easily identified
through nutritional testing. To avoid
symptoms I just eat raspberries instead.
It’s that simple. It’s a matter of finding
the underlying problem and fixing it.”
Zinn says that finding and fixing
the problem is a mix of art and science.
The science is the tests–testing for food
sensitivities, nutrient deficiencies, nutritional genetics, etc. The art is getting
it right—making sure the client knows
what to eat and how to shop for his/her
food, how to cook it, how to find good
recipes or where to get the resources to
make this happen. She acknowledges
that removing inflammation from the
diet and eating healthy foods is a big
first step toward a healthier, better quality of life, because the nutrients in food
are what affect the whole body.
Food issues can affect the immune
system, which would mean the brain is
often affected, which can lead to mood
swings, fatigue, memory problems,
and even seizures, inability to read or
use good judgement. Zinn thrives on
helping her clients at Holistic Nutrition Center recover from issues such as
these as well as many others.
She says, “When people recover after being seriously ill, it changes how they
see the world. Every day becomes precious. I want my patients to feel good—to
not worry about their future, because
they’re managing their life day to day.”

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Tune-Up?
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616-575-9105

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Limited Time Oﬀer - Call Today

For more information on Holistic
Nutrition Center or to schedule an
appointment, call 616-355-5333, visit
HolisticNutritionCenter.net or find
Holistic Nutrition Center on Facebook.
See ad, page 29.
Amanda Grasmeyer is a frequent
contributor to Natural Awakenings
Magazine. You can contact her at
MandiGrasmeyer@gmail.com.

inspiration
“Even though we
didn’t start out
trying to make
healing music,
that is exactly
what happened.”

Nature and Music:
Healing People and the Planet
I

n 1970, when sound-healing and
video pioneers Dean and Dudley
Evenson first became aware of the serious environmental issues threatening
our world, they wanted to find a way
to help educate people about the plight
of the planet. They got that opportunity
two years later, when they worked as
videographers at the first United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm, Sweden.
“In Stockholm we met and were
exposed to the wisdom of the fifteen
Native Americans who were at the
conference talking about Mother
Earth,” recalls Dudley Evenson. “We
documented this historic event with the
new, portable Sony video camera that
had just become available, and looked
for ways to apply these new ideas.”
The next year, Dean Evenson was
invited to Wounded Knee on the Pine
Ridge Reservation in South Dakota to
help transmit television out of the occupied town. He stayed on the reservation
a month, videotaping Lakota elders,
activists and medicine men, who spoke
strongly about the challenges facing the
earth at that time. Again the Evensons
contemplated this new information and
tried to figure out a way to share what
they were learning.
A few years later, now living in
Tucson, Arizona, the Evensons decided
to form a record label, Soundings of the
Planet, to distribute what Dean describes as “the music that was flowing
through us.” He spent the night in a desert canyon, and as the sun rose, he used

two stereo mikes to catch the sounds
of the birds at dawn. The Evensons’ first
album, Desert Dawn Song, included
these sounds of dawn in the desert along
with the couple’s calming music of flute,
harp, cello and vocal tones.
“This album was one of the very
first to include meditative music along
with field recordings of nature sounds,
and it ushered in a whole new genre of
music,” Dudley says. “This was our way
of honoring the earth, and our vision
was to get this nature-based music to
people living in cities who made decisions about the fate of the planet.”
The Evensons have continued
to create this special type of music,
and over the past 35 years they have
released more than 80 albums and videos dedicated to their vision of creating
“peace through music.”
Dean has spent many
hours next to flowing rivers
or ocean beaches, and in
wetlands, forests and mountain valleys, recording both
audio and video. These
“soundings of the planet”
have found their way to a
number of popular, awardwinning albums and DVDs.
The added bonus, Dudley
says, is that the music
seems to have a healing effect on listeners.
“Even though we didn’t
start out trying to make healing music, that is exactly
what happened,” she says.

The Evensons also added to their
recordings the Earth Resonance Frequency (ERF) of 7.83 hz (cycles per
second), which is the actual resonance
of the planet’s atmospheric cavity, Dean
explains. “This is also the same frequency that our brains emit when on the
cusp of the alpha and theta brainwave
states,” he says. “This tends to have
a positive, healing effect on people,
adding to the already peaceful state the
music and nature sounds create.”
For more information on Dean and
Dudley Evenson and their music and
videos, visit Soundings.com; search
“soundings of the planet” on Facebook
or YouTube; visit their blog, HealthyLivingDreams.com; or call 800-93-PEACE
(800-937-3223).

natural awakenings

July 2015

31

How to
Capture
‘It’
by Kenrick Smith

U

nderstanding the importance of
goals and how essential they are to
one’s success is crucial. Many people
have goals (which is wonderful), but
sometimes they don’t put a solid foundation down as to how these goals will
eventually be attained. Listed below
are some goal-setting tools designed to
help build a strong foundation that will
ultimately result in success.
1. Goal Identification. Figure out what
it is that one wants to accomplish.
Develop benchmarks to stay on
track or to use along the way to
gauge progress. Set a specific longterm goal and adapt benchmarks as
short-term goals that can be checked
off on the way to the long-term goal.
2. Motivating Factors. The definition
is simple: to act as the motive for;
the causative factor of; instigate,
induce. This is the reason—the
force—that drives one, or will drive
one, to attain his/her goals. It could
be in the form of a reward to prove
to one’s self or to others that he/
she can do something, the inspiration one receives from others or
possibly the satisfaction of completing the task. Motivating factors
will help people push through the
tough times. It is recommended to
revisit these factors throughout the
journey to remind one’s self of what
his/her inspirations mean.
3. Perseverance. This means to
continue striving in spite of dis-

32

West Michigan Edition

couragements. It is the ability to
push through diversity or difficult
times in order to achieve a goal. At
times, perseverance will be tested
to its limits, but it will be necessary to break down the roadblocks
faced in order to fulfill the ultimate
prize. Fear of failure, doubters and
“I can’t” are the roadblocks most
commonly associated with not
attaining a goal. These subjects are
the ones that will try to derail goalseekers more times than not on
their quest to fulfilling goals.
When one encounters a
roadblock, it is a perfect opportunity to revisit motivating factors. This
will remind one why he/she wants
to achieve this goal. The ability to
overcome these issues will be critical in the overall accomplishment
of the goal.
4. Support System. It’s important to
have someone in place to help in
the attaining of the goal. A support
system is the group of individuals
people surround themselves with
to help them achieve their goal.
This group of individuals will help
through the toughest of times and
get the goal-seeker pointed in the
right direction when things don’t
seem to be going as planned. These
individuals can be parents, siblings,
teachers, pastors, coaches, friends
and others we might never expect.

NaturalWestMichigan.com

5. A motto to live by could be, “Surround yourself with great people
and great things will happen.” It’s
the truth. Embrace this group of
people when they want to help and
ensure that they feel included and
a part of the process. Continually
thank them for their support.
Goal setting is critical when trying
to attain all different levels of success
throughout life. Creating the proper
goal-setting outline will allow individuals to achieve their goals easier
than just saying, “I want to do this or
that.” Don’t get discouraged, no matter
what roadblocks are thrown in the way
during the journey. Pull from everything that has been put into place to
get through and keep moving forward.
Everyone can get there. Everyone can
do it. If someone puts his/her mind to it,
it’s amazing what one can accomplish.
Also, lead by example. Help inspire
others to reach their goals, be part of
their support system (sometimes it is just
as gratifying to see someone else reach
their goal as it is to reach one’s own),
help motivate them and help them persevere through the rough patches.
Dream big and then go capture it.
Kenrick Smith is on his own journey to
become a professional triathlete. For
more information, visit K17Sport.com.

XYLITOL
—Advertorial—

More Innovative than Antibiotics
The Power of Xylitol
Xylitol’s effectiveness in oral health and usage
as a sweetener is well-known. New research
also shows its usefulness in upper respiratory
health. However, people may not know the
reason why it is so effective. Xylitol has a unique
ability to interfere with bacterial adhesion.

Anti-Adhesion
Xylitol’s anti-adhesive effect was discovered
by accident in 1996. A British medical journal
published a study, which analyzed past research
done with xylitol. Researchers found that there
was an additional correlation between xylitol
and upper respiratory infections—a correlation
researchers didn’t see when the studies were
performed originally. The 1996 study found
that among the children tested in the studies,
those who used xylitol chewing gum had 42%
fewer ear infections. Researchers performed
subsequent research to answer why there was
this correlation. These studies supported the
discovery of xylitol’s anti-adhesion property.
Xylitol’s anti-adhesive effect interferes
with bacteria sticking to tissue. In order for
bacteria to thrive, they must attach to the
cell membrane. There they metabolize and
the body senses the bacteria, it reacts with
various responses like congestion, runny nose,
against bacterial infections using antibiotics,
attempting to kill the bacteria. However, the
use of antibiotics produces resistant bacterial
strains, which leads to more serious problems.
Xylitol’s anti-adhesive property interferes with
bacterial adhesion, resulting in bacteria not
being able to colonize and thrive; eventually
they are washed out. This is an innovative
way to avoid antibiotic resistance. Instead of
them to become stronger and more resistant,
xylitol doesn’t allow the bacteria to cling to
the cell and start its metabolic processes.
Professionals advise people to regularly wash

their hands to prevent illness. But washing
with only water isn’t enough; they must wash
with soap. Similarly, just as people should
wash their hands, they should also wash their
nasal passages. A normal saline solution is like
washing with only water. Washing with a nasal
spray containing xylitol is like washing hands
with soap.
Bacteria and People
Bacteria, like people, congregate together.
This is called quorum sensing. When people
start coming together, they form a town or
city. Bacteria act similarly; as they sense other
bacterial “city.”
If a group wanted to take over a city, historically
they would send in soldiers to subdue the
inhabitants so they could then occupy the
city. However, there is no guarantee that they
would control everyone, and there may be
leftover survivors who rally together. But if that
particular city were to have an extreme change
in environment, the inhabitants wouldn’t be
able to cope and they’d have to leave the
city. Changing the environment is much more
effective in expelling the inhabitants than
attacking with soldiers.

What are Some of Xylitol’s Applications?
Studies have shown numerous uses for
xylitol, many of which deal with its adverse
effects on bacterial adhesion. Sinus, ear, and
respiratory infections begin in the nose as we
breathe in bacteria which attempt to adhere
to the cell membrane. With the use of nasal
sprays containing xylitol, the bacteria found
in the nose cannot stick to the tissue and are
to greater probability that they will not infect
the body. Nurse Practitioner Sherril Sego, FNPin this aspect. She says, “Saline nasal rinses
containing xylitol have been found to be more
effective than traditional saline rinses to reduce
the symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis.”
One of the best things about xylitol is that it is
100% natural and 100% safe. It’s no wonder so

Go to xlear.com and look up the patented
Xlear Nasal Spray.

Relating this back to bacteria, if we use
antibiotics, we are sending in soldiers to
between antibiotics and the microorganisms,
with both attempting to get stronger. But if we
alter the environment in our nasal and sinus
passages so that bacteria cannot adhere to the
cell surface, and thus thrive, we win the battle.

natural awakenings

July 2015

33

consciouseating

by Judith Fertig

I

n 1776, the stirring phrase in
the U.S. Declaration of Independence—life, liberty and the pursuit
of happiness—became a rallying cry
for American colonists seeking these
inalienable rights of self-government.
In 2015, those seeking a new way of
eating for personal wellness, a more
vibrant local economy and a healthier
environment are fomenting their own
kind of rebellion.
“You have to make a conscious
decision to change for your own wellbeing, that of your family and your
country,” according to former President
Bill Clinton. In early 2010, suffering
from heart disease, Clinton chose to
radically change his meat-lover’s diet
to a more plant-based focus. “I wanted
to live to be a grandfather, so I decided
to pick the diet that I thought would
maximize my chances of long-term
survival,” he says.
Clinton is part of a growing
leadership group that espouses a more
vegetarian approach to eating, including a federally appointed panel of
nutritionists. For the first time since its
formation in 1983, the federal Dietary
Guidelines Advisory Committee this
year elected to factor environmental
sustainability into its recommendations, noting that a diet lower in animal-based foods is not only healthier,
34

West Michigan Edition

but has less of an environmental impact. The impetus toward plant-based
foods is also stronger than in their last
report in 2010.

Exciting Developments

A bold pioneer in the charge for plantbased eating is PlantPure Nation, a
grassroots organization founded by Dr.
T. Colin Campbell, Ph.D., the author of
the bestselling The China Study, a book
that helped persuade Clinton to make
his own dietary change. Today, his son,
Nelson Campbell, is at the forefront
of this food revolution, most recently
producing the independent documentary film PlantPure Nation, set to debut
nationwide on July 4.
Those enticed by the delicious
concept of better health for themselves
and the planet can also turn to The
PlantPure Nation Cookbook, with more
than 150 plant-based recipes by Kim
Campbell, Nelson’s wife, whom he
names “the chef in the family.”
“No issue is bigger than the one
of plant-based nutrition,” says Nelson. “It’s at the root of our healthcare
crisis, affecting the lives of millions of
Americans, the vitality of our economy
and the solvency of our government.
The food we eat has enormous effects
on climate, water and soil resources.
Our food choices also affect the way in

NaturalWestMichigan.com

image courtesy of PlantPureNation.com

VEGGIE
NATION
REVOLUTION

which food is produced and distributed
in this country, equitably or not.”
Historically, political revolutions
tend to be violently adversarial, but
a food revolution can take a more
nurturing and inclusive course. “The
first step people can take is to change
their own diet,” Nelson says. “The
next step is to help others do the
same. The third is to get involved in
the movement.”

New Fourth of
July Barbecue

A fun way to help ourselves and our
friends and family consider making
dietary changes is hosting a plantbased Fourth of July get-together. Kim’s
recipes for a smoky “barbecue” sandwich, creamy potato salad and a zesty,
colorful bean dish celebrate traditional
picnic foods with a twist. They’re also
perfect for potluck-style entertaining.
“We have often branded this
idea of plant-based nutrition as such
and such a ‘diet’, and then built these
brands around personalities. But in
order to make this a more mainstream
idea, we need to frame it differently.
This concept of plant-based nutrition
is a fact of nature; a simple idea that’s
accessible to all,” says Nelson.
In a 2012 Gallup poll, just 5 percent of U.S. adults identified themselves as vegetarians, plus 2 percent as
vegans. It’s a start, Nelson contends,
and there are other promising signs.
“The local-food movement is blossoming, with farmers’ markets springing up
all over the United States,” proclaims
the National Geographic special
publication The Future of Food (Food.
NationalGeographic.com). The number has increased dramatically in the
past five years. The editors point to the
demand for fresh produce and a desire
to invest in local economies as driving
this growth.
“I love the idea of a movement
involving millions of people fixing a
problem that industry and government
have largely caused,” says Nelson. “Our
success may show a new way forward for
solving other pressing social problems.”
Judith Fertig blogs at AlfrescoFoodAnd
Lifestyle.blogspot.com from Overland
Park, KS.

PlantPure Nation Recipes

This traditional potato salad has the
perfect blend of celery, onions and
seasonings.

Jackfruit will soften, begin to fall apart
and take on the consistency of pulled
pork. Use a fork to pull apart the fruit
and stir thoroughly.
Turn the slow cooker to low heat and
cook for another 1 to 2 hours.

Kim’s hints:
4 Customize this recipe with a favorite
barbecue sauce that has no added oils
and a low sodium content.
4 This recipe gets better the longer it’s
cooked. Leftovers are good.
4 Serve the barbecue on a whole-grain
bun and top with coleslaw.

2½ pounds red potatoes, unpeeled
4 organic celery stalks, thinly sliced
½ red onion, cut in half again
and julienned
6 green onions, sliced
½ cup tofu cashew mayonnaise
4 tsp apple cider vinegar
2 Tbsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp agave nectar
½ tsp sea salt
¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
Cut the potatoes into half- to oneinch chunks.
Place potato pieces in a large pot and
cover with water. Bring to a boil over
medium-high heat, and boil 5 to 10
minutes; then turn down the heat to
medium and cook until tender.
Rinse the cooked potatoes in a colander with cold water until they are room
temperature. Place the potatoes in a
large mixing bowl.

Submit directly through our website.
Deadline is the 15th of each month.

Visit NaturalWestMichigan.com for
guidelines and more information.
38

West Michigan Edition

hese are the first words Pam Grout
speaks when she rises every
morning before dancing her way
into the bathroom. She plays a favorite
uplifting tune such as Pharrell William’s
Happy or Abba’s Dancing Queen and
creates a sassy choreography complete
with fist pumps, joyous jumps and a
little rhythmic strutting.
Her easy positive actions take no
longer than it would to worry, “How
will I get everything done today?” and
then trudging into the bathroom feeling
fatigued and overwhelmed. Plus, Grout’s
playful attitude makes a big difference in
the rest of the day’s outcomes.
Grout is the author of two internationally bestselling books, E-Squared
and E-Cubed. Both offer readers
multiple opportunities to experience
a disarmingly simple outlook on life.
“There is an infinite force of potentiality
in the universe that has our backs and
wants to interact with us and guide us,”
Grout believes. “There is no absolute
reality; we create the reality that serves
us and places our attention on what we
most want.”

NaturalWestMichigan.com

Letting Go of Doubt

Grout’s journey to a life filled with
joy and miracles is ongoing. As a
freelance writer, she initially struggled
with self-doubt, wondering, “What
do I, a kid from Kansas, have to offer
a New York City editor?” and came
face-to-face with fears about money.
Even though she was earning a decent
living, she was recycling her parents’
anxieties about not having enough.
“I’m not good enough” was another
party crasher.
When she began studying A
Course in Miracles, Grout learned that
consciousness creates the material
world and the importance of self-compassion. She examined her staunch
beliefs, questioning if they were true
and letting go of the tiresome stories
of inadequacy and worry. She began
focusing on life’s blessings and noticed
how concentrating on the good made
life happier and more dynamic. Then
she started to lay out simple intentions
such as finding a good parking spot or
uncovering a lost object. The results
were immediate and intriguing.

This seeker of truth realized that to
gain real spiritual growth, she needed
to become more deliberate, so she
designed a scientific framework, set
a clear intention, imposed a deadline
and noted the results. “The results
were so convincing that I decided to
see if my experiments would work for
other people,” Grout says. Before long,
friends and acquaintances were manifesting all kinds of amazing things, and
she decided to write about her theories.
Ten years later, after a steep learning
curve in the publishing world, her work
became globally acclaimed.

there, but we need to consciously “plug
in” to use it.
Grout details powerful spiritual
principles that help us make everyday life
richer, more meaningful and more fun.
Part of her “new curriculum” includes:

Tapping a Joyful
Reality of Miracles

n The universe is limitless, abundant
and surprisingly accommodating.

“This little book will prove to you once
and for all that your thoughts have power, and that a field of infinite possibilities
awaits your claim,” the author writes in
E-Squared. “It will help you rewrite the
outdated thinking that drives your life.”
Nine easy energy experiments will
prove that the “field of potentiality,” as
Grout calls it, is dependable, predictable
and available to all. She equates our
connection with the field to plugging in
a toaster. We know the energy field is

n Reality is waves of possibility that we
have “observed” into form.
n We are an energy field, connected
with everything and everyone in the
universe.
n Our universe connection provides
accurate and unlimited guidance.
n Whatever we focus on expands.

“Believe in your bones that the
universe is bountiful and supportive,” encourages Grout, asking us to first give the
“field” 48 hours to send an unexpected
gift. Don’t specify the gift, but just ask to
receive and recognize the blessing. Set a
deadline and then watch what unfolds.

Making Dreams Come True

Making our dreams a reality for us is
not only possible, it’s probable. The key
is opening our hearts to the beneficent

universe. “If you want to know what
will happen in your life, listen to the
words coming out of your mouth,”
Grout advises.
If we are deluged with negative
thoughts, stop and notice all that is
right in our world. Ask the universe
for help in shedding dark ruminations.
When we replace poor images with
positive affirming thoughts, our lives
become more magical and enjoyable.
Grout encourages her readers
to invoke two words when life feels
chaotic and out of control: “It’s okay,”
which allows the loving flow of the
universe to do the heavy lifting. Concentrating on living our joys equips us
to help ourselves and others.
Grout queries, “Since we are
creating our reality, why not create the
possibilities that bring us closer to our
life’s purpose and higher self?”
For more on Pam Grout’s work, follow
her inspiring blog at PamGrout.com.
Deborah Shouse is the author of Love
in the Land of Dementia: Finding Hope
in the Caregiver’s Journey; she blogs at
DementiaJourney.org.

natural awakenings

July 2015

39

fitbody

Savvy Cycling
Keep the Hard Knocks Out of Biking
by Randy Kambic

P

eople are biking more than ever.
Recreational bicycling ranked
second to running as the favorite
outdoor activity among both youths (6
to 24 years old) and adults (25-plus) in
a recent Outdoor Industry Association
study. The National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA) further
reports that from 2000 to 2012 the
number of Americans biking to work
rose from 488,000 to 786,000.
This positive trend also means more
crowded bike lanes and other pathways
challenge the community infrastructure’s ability to keep up, raising safety
concerns. Plus, we naturally want to
avoid aches and pains while enjoying
the myriad benefits of pedaling.

Find the Right Bike

“Having the right bike for one’s needs
that’s properly fitted is crucial,” says
Dan Moser, a founder and steering
committee member of the BikeWalkLee
community coalition and a traffic safety
consultant in Fort Myers, Florida. “Use
a local bike shop whose mechanics test
and adjust the bikes they sell.”
A bike mechanic can determine the
proper seat height and ideal distance
from the handlebars to the seat tube.
Back, knee or hip pain may develop if a
cyclist has to stretch their legs to get to
40

West Michigan Edition

the pedals, explains Tim Bustos, a bicycling consultant in Pensacola, Florida,
and former bicycle and pedestrian
coordinator for Davis, California, which
earned platinum-level Bicycle Friendly
Community status, along with Boulder,
Colorado, and Portland, Oregon, from
the League of American Bicyclists (LAB).
On the other hand, “A biker doesn’t
get proper leg extension if the seat is
too low,” he says, possibly leading to
leg muscle strains. “The legs should be
almost, but not totally extended at the
lowest point in the pedaling motion.”

Safety Alert

The latest NHTSA study charted 49,000
bicycle accidents in 2012, 1,000 more
than the year before. Biking only in daylight and avoiding alcohol could improve
those numbers because 48 percent of
biker fatalities occur beginning at 4 p.m.
and 37 percent involve a driver or bicyclist
that has been drinking.
Even well-marked bike lanes don’t
guarantee safety, so caution is required.
Some motorists are careless about entering bike lanes and don’t correctly stop at
crosswalks or look behind before opening
car doors. David Takemoto-Weerts, a bicycle program coordinator at the University
of California, Davis, member of the city’s
Bike Transportation Advisory Committee

NaturalWestMichigan.com

and LAB-certified instructor, suggests keeping at least five feet from the sides of cars
to avoid being hit. Cyclists are wise not to
weave in and out of traffic, to signal turns
and watch out for runners, walkers and
pedestrians as they abide by normal traffic
rules and flow. Takemoto-Weerts says that
bikers sometimes overlook using the stop
signal (left arm extended downward) to
alert bikers behind them.
Wearing a helmet should be a standard practice. The University of North
Carolina’s Highway Safety Research
Center, in Chapel Hill, reports that wearing a helmet reduces the overall risk of
head injuries by 85 percent. “Cyclists
are part of traffic, whether operating on
a road, pathway or a combination,” says
Moser. “Being acutely aware of one’s
surroundings and minimizing distractions, following the rules of the road and
pathway, and being prepared to deal
with others’ mistakes are all vital.”

Fitness Factors

Dr. Kim Martin, a certified functional
medicine practitioner and chiropractor
with North Shore Health Solutions, in
Northbrook, Illinois, says that recreational
bikers have visited her for knee, hip and
neck soreness or strains. In addition to
ensuring they’re employing proper leg
extension, she advises, “Pedal a little
faster in a lower gear; ideally, 75 to 90
revolutions per minute, which is easier
on the knees and lessens muscle fatigue
than traveling slower in a higher gear.”
She explains that the correct seat height
facilitates proper alignment of hips and
a full rotation; if not, energy is forced
outward, stressing the hips.
Martin adds that the neck might experience strain from tilting the head up for
long periods. “This can occur by wearing
a helmet that is too low or forward in the
front or poor-fitting eyewear that inches
forward down the nose.” Right after a long
ride, Martin suggests that riders gently
bend downward over their crossed legs
a few times, alternately switching legs,
and also slowly bending the head up and
down, sideways and then in a circular
motion for a couple of minutes.
“Overall,” she says, “the key is to
have fun.”
Freelance writer and editor Randy
Kambic, in Estero, FL, is a frequent
contributor to Natural Awakenings.

greenliving

FOOD GLEANING
Harvesting Leftovers Feeds the Hungry
by Avery Mack

A

mericans
annually
discard
more food than
plastic—35 million
tons in 2012—an
amount that’s tripled
since 1960, according
to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Most of
the waste is fruits and vegetables,
seafood, grains, meat and milk. Since
waste starts in the fields before it compounds via restaurants, grocers and
families, the easiest starting point to
reverse this trend is with farmers.
“Farming’s a high-risk business.
Farmers can’t predict weather, sales
or equipment problems, so extra is
grown,” explains Laurie Caldwell, executive director of Boston Area Gleaners, in Waltham, Massachusetts. “Up
to 20 percent of U.S.-grown food isn’t
harvested. Gleaners save what’s left
behind for hungry people in need.”

Everyone Benefits

“Income disparity, economic vulnerability and lack of knowledge leads to
unhealthy choices,” adds Caldwell. “The
negative consequences become a community burden.” Countering the problem,
“We’ve seen a shift in priorities, with food
pantries offering fresh, quality food and
educating both staff and recipients,” she
reports. In 2014, Boston Area Gleaners
harvested 34 farms, contributing 177,000
pounds of primarily vegetables encompassing 60 varieties.
California’s fruit is abundant because of the state’s year-round growing
season. Until the 1960s and the advent
of Silicon Valley, this was the world’s
largest fruit-producing region. Some

of its current
apple trees date
back to the Gold
Rush days. “We
glean backyards
and orchards here,”
says Craig Diserens,
executive director of
Village Harvest, in San
Jose. “Apples, pears, cherries,
peaches, plums and apricots,
plus citrus fruits—it’s ladderless picking, to protect both volunteers and
trees.” Telescoping tools pluck out-ofreach fruit. The nonprofit gleans 15 to
20 times a month via volunteers ages
5 to 90. In 2013, its Harvesting for the
Hungry program distributed 245,000
pounds of fruit.
The Feeding America West Michigan food bank, headquartered in Comstock, provides more than produce, with
donations from manufacturers, wholesalers, restaurants and stores adding
meat, dairy, frozen foods and bread. Volunteers repackage donations into usable
sizes; do clerical work; pick produce;
and sort, pack, store and deliver food.
While most of the nonprofit’s
yield is distributed through 1,100 food
pantries, shelters and soup kitchens,
many can’t store perishables. Working
with churches, schools and community
centers, the organization’s mobile units
deliver fresh food directly to recipients,
often the same day it is donated. Each
unit can carry food for 100 to 200
families. This local Feeding America
outreach group serves an estimated
492,000 people each year.
The Society of St. Andrew often
rescues the “ugly” produce—potatoes not well-shaped for chips, oversized peaches, too-long green beans,

too-ripe strawberries and apples that
aren’t picture perfect. “Farmers get a
tax benefit and people get fresh food,”
says Bruce Oland, the Triangle Area
coordinator in North Carolina. “Farmers let us know when they’ll harvest a
crop and we have a few days to glean
what’s left before they replant. We
pick anything edible—kale, lettuce,
tomatoes, cantaloupe and lots of sweet
potatoes.” In a single harvested field,
volunteers have gleaned seven tons of
sweet potatoes.
The society’s gleaning and feeding
ministry has regional offices in Alabama,
Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi,
North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee
and Virginia. Additional areas are located
in Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, Ohio and
Pennsylvania (see EndHunger.org).
Jason Brown, a former St. Louis
Rams’ center with a five-year, $37 million
contract, traded his cleats for a tractor.
Now in Louisburg, North Carolina, he
calls First Fruits Farm home and plans to
donate the first fruits of every harvest to
food pantries. He learned about farming
from YouTube videos, computer searches
and other farmers. The first crop on five
acres yielded 100,000 pounds of sweet
potatoes; Brown gave it all away. With
1,000 acres to farm, he’s set to tackle
hunger big time.
It doesn’t require a big time
commitment to help feed the hungry.
Backyard gardeners can start by planting
an extra row (Tinyurl.com/PlantRow
ForHungry). Since its inception in
1995, the Plant a Row program has collectively turned 20 million pounds of
produce into 80 million meals.
Offer to pick a neighbor’s excess
produce or herbs, and then check with
others nearby. Get the kids involved.
Volunteer at or make a donation to
a soup kitchen. Gather a group of
friends, family, members of an organization or congregation to glean or
repackage produce one day a month. If
a local food pantry can’t accept perishables, leverage social media to spread
the word about which day free food
will be available at a church or school.
Everyone can help. No one should go
to bed hungry.
Connect with freelance writer Avery
Mack at AveryMack@mindspring.com.

natural awakenings

July 2015

41

$ave Time
& Energy!
Please call in
advance to ensure
that the event
you’re interested
in is still available.

ALL MONTH LONG

Buy One Get One ½ Off- Buy one 60 or 90 minute
massage, and get your second session at 1/2 price.
Contact Casey at 269-221-1961 or HealingWays@
WaysToHealing.com to schedule your appointment.
WaysToHealing.com, 6363 N. 24th St. Kalamazoo.
20% Off Massages- Mention this calendar listing
and receive 20% off massages with Janelle Goltz,
LMT at Grand Rapids Natural Health. Call 616264-6556 or visit GRNaturalHealth.com for more
information. Grand Rapids.
40% Off Counseling- Mention this calendar listing
and receive 40% off counseling with Kerry Hart
Counseling, PLC at Grand Rapids Natural Health.
Call 616-264-6556 or visit GRNaturalHealth.com
for more information. Grand Rapids.

calendarofevents
Visit www.NaturalWestMichigan.com for guidelines and to submit entries. All Calendar events must be submitted online by the 15th of the month prior to publication.
Denotes an event sponsored by Natural Awakenings Magazine West Michigan.

Summer Hypnosis Groups Stress Management6-7:30pm, July 15 and 22. Learn simple and effective techniques to manage everyday stress. $70.
Call Linda or Stacey at 616-550-3231 to save your
seat. Classes held at Hypnotherapy Associates of
Grand Rapids LLC, 1345 Monroe Ave. NW, Ste.
201, Grand Rapids.
Reiki Share- 6-8pm. Come check out what Reiki
is all about, and have a mini session done. Open to
those that know Reiki and those that don’t. Donations
welcome. Call 616-443-4225 to register. The Remedy
House, 5150 Northland Dr., Grand Rapids.
Health & Wellness Talk-6:15pm. Learn about
chiropractic as a lifestyle. Come with questions! We
provide a light dinner and give you a thank you for
anyone who joins! RSVP to join. This event is open
to the public and families are encouraged to attend.
MoreaChiro.com. 388 N. Third St., Fruitport.

SoulCollage® Workshop- 9am-noon. SoulCollage® is a fun process of art, spirituality and healing. Ignite your creativity and open your heart to
wisdom during this season of your life. No previous
art experience needed to create your own magnificent SoulCollage® cards. $25. Dominican Center
at Marywood, 2025 E. Fulton St., Grand Rapids.
The Ayurvedic Understanding of the Mind- 9am-7pm,
July 18-19. This weekend Ayurveda course is offered
by the BVI School of Ayurveda. Information, visit
AyurvedaMichigan.org. Application, contact Ayurveda@
Sambodhsociety.us. 6363 North 24th St., Kalamazoo.
Urevia Practitioner Level Two- July 18-19, 10am–
5pm. Certified classes offered by Subtle Energies
& D’ Rose Institute. Learn basic metaphysical
principles, chakra assessment, how to give a healing
and how to use Urevia as a tool to improve every day
experiences, health and well-being. $300.00, lunch
provided. 269-671-4455, ReikiConnect.com, ReikiUreviaClasses.com. Hickory Corners.

MONDAY, JULY 20

Chiropractic Wellness Talk- 6:15pm. Learn about
chiropractic as a lifestyle. Come with questions! We
provide a light dinner and give you a thank you for
anyone who joins! RSVP to join. This event is open
to the public and families are encouraged to attend.
MoreaChiro.com. 388 N. Third St., Fruitport.

Essential Oil Workshop- 6-8pm. Therapeutic Grade
Oils - Learn and understand essential oils, how they work
and how to use them. $25. Call 616-443-4225 to register.
The Remedy House 5150 Northland Dr., Grand Rapids.
Gong Bath: Sound Healing Performance- 7pm.
Join Jeff Gregory for an evening of Sacred Healing Sound. Experience the resonating sounds of
the Gong and Tibetan Singing Bowls that induce a
state of spontaneous meditation, relaxation, promote
vitality and healing. Suggested offering $10-15.
Sambodh Center, 6363 North 24th St. Kalamazoo.

SATURDAY, JULY 25

Reiki I & II Class- 9am-5pm. Introduction to Reiki,
become attuned to the universal energy, learn how
to give treatment to self and others and meet your
Reiki guide. Class fee is $250, which includes a
$50 deposit due at registration. Call to register: 616443-4225. The Remedy House, 5150 Northland Dr.,
Grand Rapids.
Usui Reiki I & II- July 25-26, 10am–5pm. Certified classes offered by Subtle Energies & D’ Rose
Institute. Learn basic metaphysical principles,
chakra assessment, how to give a healing and how
to use Reiki as a tool to improve every day experiences, health and well-being. $250.00, lunch
provided. 269-671-4455, ReikiConnect.com,
Reiki-UreviaClasses.com. Hickory Corners.

Ancestral Clearing/Emotional Release Class2-6pm. Learn how to identify and release limiting
beliefs and patterns, including ancestral “baggage
claim”, so you can live life of freedom, fulfillment
and happiness! Essential oils are incorporated, too
for most powerful release. RSVP by July 15 by
calling Ilka, 616-259-7509. For more information,
go to IlkasHealthyHeaven.com.

SUNDAY, JULY 26

Advanced Reiki class- 9am-5pm. Enhance energy work to a new level. Learn how to perform
intuitive surgery and how to set up and utilize
a crystal grid with energy work. $275 with $50
deposit due at registration. Call to register: 616443-4225. The Remedy House, 5150 Northland
Dr., Grand Rapids.

MONDAY, JULY 27

Building Your Immune System Workshop- 7pm.
Join Maximized Living for “Building Immunity from
the Inside Out: Body Armor!” to learn what your
immune system is and how to best support it. MLRivertown.com, 616-214-3111. Workshop held at Visser
Family YMCA, 3540 Fairlane Ave. SW, Grandville.

Impressive Bicycle Repair- 7pm. Have
a bicycle that could use a tune up but you
don’t know a spoke wrench from a tire
lever? Spoke Folks will teach you everything you need to keep your bike in top
condition and impress everyone with your
skills. Free. Grand Rapids Public Library,
111 Library St. NE, Grand Rapids.

YogaFest 2015 – July 30-August 2. Four-day festival will includes yoga movement, kirtan, meditation
and spirituality workshops. Local food vendors will
offer unique vegetarian meals. Weekend pass is $140
and includes three nights of wooded camping, access
to all programs and parking. For more information or
tickets, visit YogaFestMI.com. Song of the Morning
on the 800-acre property in the Pigeon River State
Forest, Vanderbilt.

Wildflower Walkabout- 10:30am.
Come enjoy a free, guided hike of the
Newaygo Prairie Nature Sanctuary and
its amazing flora. This is the best and
largest remaining example of dry-sand
prairie in Michigan. Newaygo Prairie
Nature Sanctuary, Newaygo.

The Magic of Michigan Retreat- Come to
Camp Miniwanca, a private Lake Michigan
gem just north of Muskegon and join the Sierra Club for an affordable, family-friendly
retreat. All activities, workshops, five meals
and lodging included in retreat fee. For more
information, call 517-484-2372 or email
Cecilia.Garcia@SierraClub.org. Shelby.

Grand Rapids Vegfest- 11am-5pm. The first
annual Vegfest in Grand Rapids!
Presentations by top experts in
the health field, a vegan food
court, a cruelty free market place, cooking
demonstration, children’s activities, a special
program for teenagers and more. Held at the
Delta Plex in Grand Rapids. GRVegfest.com.
Grandville Healing Arts & Intuitive Fair11am-5pm. Outdoor vendors covering a wide
range of topics in the healing arts & spiritual
guidance fields. Indoor presentations on topics
such as baking for food allergies, the benefits
of bees and acupuncture! Held at Alternative
Care Solution Wellness Center in Grandville.
GrandvilleHealingArtIntuitiveFair.Weebly.com.

natural awakenings

July 2015

43

ongoingevents

Thursday

Note: Visit www.NaturalWestMichigan.com for guidelines and to submit entries.
Events must be re-submitted each month by the 15th of the month. Events subject to change, please call ahead.

A Course in Miracles Study Group- 6:30pm. This
self-study system is unique in teaching forgiveness
as the road to inner peace, and the remembrance of
the unconditional love of God. Visit UnityCSG.org
or call 616-682-7812 for more information. Ada.

Wednesday
$20 off BioMeridian Assessments- Food allergies, environmental allergies, organ function and real food menus and shopping lists
for families that are healthy and kid-approved.
Visit IntegrativeNutritionalTherapies.com or
616-365-9176. Grand Rapids.
Chair Yoga- 10:30-11:30am. Movements and
breathing exercises designed to encourage relaxation and increase mobility, balance and strength.
This class is a great, gentle option for those who use
a wheelchair or walker or those with limited mobility. $12 or $9 for students/seniors. Hearts Journey
Wellness, 6189 Lake Michigan Dr., Allendale.
Vinyasa Yoga Classes- 5:30-6:45pm. Experience
an energizing and athletic practice using a dynamic,
flowing style of yoga that links breath and movement through a heat building sequence of postures.
Hearts Journey Wellness Center, 6189 Lake Michigan Dr., Allendale.
Creation’s Lessons for Living- 7pm. 2nd Wed of
month. Creation desires to help us grow, mature,
evolve. Connect with Creation’s wisdom through
the teachings and ceremonies of the shamanic Sweet
Medicine SunDance Path. Donation. Call 616-8564957 for more information. Join me in learning to
walk in beauty. NE Grand Rapids.
Healing Clinic- 7-8:30pm. Seeking healing,
clarity or reconciliation in your life? Looking
for peace, joy and freedom? Call Healing Ways,
269-303-3523, to schedule an appointment.
Offering basis. WaysToHealing.com, 6363 North
24th St. Kalamazoo.

Saturday
Outdoor Yoga- 8-9am, beginning July 11. Bodhi
Tree Yoga & Wellness Studio and the Holland Recreation Division are offering an outdoor yoga class
at Kollen Park on the shores of Lake Macatawa.
Join us by the band shell for this class. $5 donation.
For weather cancellations, check MiBodhiTree.
com. Holland.
Hatha Yoga- 9-10:15am. A Little more invigorating,
this is a great class to learn the foundations
of a yoga practice. Laketown Healing Arts,
LaketownHealingArts.com, Holland.
Restorative Yoga- 9-10:15am. An all levels class
that uses props such as a chair, the wall, blankets,
bolsters, blocks and straps to support the body in
various seated and supine poses. $12 or $9 for students/seniors. Hearts Journey Wellness, 6189 Lake
Michigan Dr., Allendale.
Gentle Hatha Yoga with Mitch Coleman–
9-10:15am & 10:30-11:45am. Drop-ins welcome.
Visit WhiteRiverYoga.com for info. Classes meet at
White River Yoga Studio. Montague. 231-740-6662.
Sweetwater Local Foods Market- 9am-1pm.
Hackley Health at the Lakes building on Harvey
Street. We are inside if the weather is bad. We are a
double up bucks and bridge card market. Hesperia.
231-861-2234.

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a holistic approach to wellness,
promoting healing through
acupuncture, herbal therapy and
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Matrix Energetics is a system
used to heal, transform and
create new possibilities in your
life. Using the principles of
quantum physics and subtle
e n e rg y d u r i n g a M a t r i x
Energetics session we are able
to enter into different realties
and download new possibilities
for your mental, emotional, physical and spiritual
selves. See ad page 29.

Be Young Total Health essential oils
have undergone the 13 step E.O.B.B.D.
evaluation by third party experts who
are professionally trained for
evaluating essential oils for purity,
quality, and therapeutic value. Learn
online, through free classes, or one on
one from me, how you can use these
gifts of nature to benefit your family
and even your pets! See ad page 20.

Become an Independent Distributor.
Discover the high potency of
therapeutically authentic Essential Oils
from Young Living. Enhance your own
health, as well as others who seek
holistic wellness options. Free Training.
See ad page 11.

A fitness and nutrition coach,
making your health and fitness a priority. Plans for
people of all ages and fitness
levels. Offering many free
options, as well as cost effective solutions. Contact
Missy to see how to achieve
your optimal level of health
& fitness.

Hakomi Therapy can truly change
your life. It’s a mindfulnessbased, experiential therapy for
transforming the unconscious
patterns that keep you from the
love, joy, and fulfillment you deserve. Offered with exquisite care
and attentiveness.

A Certified PA since 1976,
Bob Huttinga practices both
Traditional and Homeopathic
care. He finds the cause and
the homeopathy remedy. We
accept most insurance, except
Priority Health, Blue Care
Network or Medicaid. See ad,
page 25.

Mary De Lange, CCT., LMT.
1003 Maryland Ave. NE, Grand Rapids
616-456-5033
HarmonyNHealth.net
Over 24 years of professional
experience and trained in a
complete range of modalities.
Whether you are seeking
relaxation, renewal, or
treatment for a specific
condition, Mary will help find
an approach that is helpful for
you. See ad page 13.

Sara Badger, Midwife
Jodi Borsk, Junior Midwife
Casi Russo, Senior Student
SimplyBorn@yahoo.com
A full service Midwifery
group partnering with
you to provide prenatal
care, education, and
choice. The first birthing
center in Grand Rapids to add to women’s birth
choices. Contact us for a free consultation 559-9075341. See ad page 13.

Facebook.com/PranaHouseReikiMassage
Find relief from anxiety,
depression, grief,
chronic pain, or pain/
discomfort due to cancer
treatment. See how
Reiki can transform your life from chaos to
harmony, you can find balance again! Awaken
the healing within. See ad page 30.

SKIN CARE

SALON SERVICES
CJ’S STUDIO SALON

LAKESHORE NATURAL SKIN CARE

5286 Plainfield Ave, NE
Grand Rapids
616-364-9191
CjsStudioSalon.com

An award winning Hair Stylist
with 30 years Advanced
Education, that uses and sells
Organic Hair Care Products
as well as uses a professional
line of Organic Hair Color.
Ionic Detox Foot Baths also
available.

FOR RENT
Massage Room for Rent - Grand Rapids
Natural Health, an all inclusive health and
wellness center, is looking for a part time
Massage Therapist to join our growing team.
We pride ourselves in offering all of our
client’s needs for their health goals, under
one roof. We are looking for a massage
therapist with a passion for the health and
wellness field and a passion for working in
a group environment to rent space. Please
contact Kelly if interested at KHassberger@
GRNaturalHealth.com or 616-540-0723.
Treatment Room for Rent -This is a room
rental situation in which you schedule
your own appointments as an independent
contractor. We are an up-beat, organic salon
with four stylists working independently with
a varied clientele. Our previous therapist was
able to establish an active business through
salon clientele and her own marketing. If
interested please call 616-364-9191 or email
cjsstudiosalon@yahoo.com

OPPORTUNITIES
Massage or Natural Health Practitioners
wanted- 360 Massage and Holistic Care is
looking for passionate individuals to join our
team. Must be licensed in massage or natural
health field and have own clientele or be willing
to build a clientele. Contact info@360Massage.
com or 616-242-0034 for more information.

natural awakenings

July 2015

47

The Path You Have Always Wanted
Naturopathy

(each year 600 hours)

Inspire a world of health!
Your diploma in Massage
Therapy, Natural Health or
Holistic Doula is here.

Natural Health Educator............. 1st Year
Natural Health Therapist............ 2nd Year
Natural Health Practitioner......... 3rd Year
CertiďŹ ed Naturopath................... 4th Year
4th Year Graduates are Eligible for
Doctor of Naturopathy National Test & Title